Selective electrical coupling based on environmental conditions

ABSTRACT

An environmental monitoring device that includes a switching mechanism is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the switching mechanism such as a switch) selectively electrically couples a first electrical-connection node and a second electrical-connection node. For example, using the switching mechanism, an electronic device that is electrically coupled to the first electrical-connection node may be selectively electrically coupled to a second electronic device that is electrically coupled to the second electrical-connection node. The selective electrical coupling may be based on one or more measurements of an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Moreover, a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device may provide sensor data based on the one or more measurements. Alternatively, an antenna and an interface circuit in the environmental monitoring device may receive the sensor data from a third electronic device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/US14/46748, filed Jul. 15, 2014, which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The described embodiments relate generally to an environmentalmonitoring device, and more specifically to techniques for monitoringenvironmental conditions in an environment and accordingly selectivelyelectrically coupling electrical nodes in an environmental monitoringdevice.

2. Related Art

Trends in connectivity and in portable electronic devices are resultingin dramatic changes in people's lives. For example, the Internet nowallows individuals access to vast amounts of information, as well as theability to identify and interact with individuals, organizations andcompanies around the world. This has resulted in a significant increasein online financial transactions (which are sometimes referred to as‘ecommerce’). Similarly, the increasingly powerful computing andcommunication capabilities of portable electronic device (such assmartphones), as well as a large and growing set of applications, areaccelerating these changes, providing individuals access to informationat arbitrary locations and the ability to leverage this information toperform a wide variety of tasks.

Recently, it has been proposed these capabilities be included in otherelectronic devices that are located throughout our environments,including those that people interact with infrequently. In the so-called‘Internet of things,’ it has been proposed that future versions of theseso-called ‘background’ electronic devices be outfitted with morepowerful computing capabilities and networking subsystems to facilitatewired or wireless communication. For example, the background electronicdevices may include: a cellular network interface (LTE, etc.), awireless local area network interface (e.g., a wireless network such asdescribed in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) 802.11 standard or Bluetooth™ from the Bluetooth Special InterestGroup of Kirkland, Wash.), and/or another type of wireless interface(such as a near-field-communication interface). These capabilities mayallow the background electronic devices to be integrated intoinformation networks, thereby further transforming people's lives.

However, the overwhelming majority of the existing background electronicdevices in people's homes, offices and vehicles have neither enhancedcomputing capabilities (such as processor that can execute a widevariety of applications) nor networking subsystems. Given the economicsof many market segments (such as the consumer market segment), theseso-called ‘legacy’ background electronic devices (which are sometimesreferred to as ‘legacy electronic devices’) are unlikely to be rapidlyreplaced. These barriers to entry and change are obstacles to widelyimplementing the Internet of things.

Furthermore, there remain many environments (such as the interiors oftrucks, trains, boxes, etc.) that currently do not regularly includeelectronic devices. As a consequence, it may also be difficult to extendthe advantages of connectivity and enhanced computing capabilities intothese environments.

In addition, many of the existing background electronic devices used inpeople's homes, offices and vehicles are difficult to use. For example,the user interfaces in the existing background electronic devices areoften outdated and cumbersome, which can make it challenging for usersto select desired functionality. Alternatively, the existing backgroundelectronic devices may not currently have the desired functionality, andthe user interfaces in the existing background electronic devices maynot allow reprogramming or modification of capabilities of the existingbackground electronic devices. These limitations are often frustratingfor users.

Hence, there is a need for an environmental monitoring device thataddresses the above-described problems.

SUMMARY

A first group of described embodiments relates to an environmentalmonitoring device that includes a first electrical-connection node thatelectrically couples to an electronic device, and a secondelectrical-connection node that electrically couples to a secondelectronic device. Moreover, a switching mechanism (such as a switch) inthe environmental monitoring device selectively electrically couples thefirst electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connectionnode. Furthermore, a control mechanism in the environmental monitoringdevice provides a control signal to the switching mechanism toselectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node andthe second electrical-connection node based on one or more measurementsof an environmental condition in an external environment that includesthe environmental monitoring device.

Note that the environmental monitoring device may include a sensormechanism that provides sensor data based on the one or moremeasurements of the environmental condition. For example, the sensormechanism may include: a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, anacoustic sensor, a fire-detection sensor, a load-monitoring sensor,and/or a motion sensor.

In particular, the sensor mechanism may include the acoustic sensor andthe environmental condition may include a sound in the externalenvironment. In this example, the control mechanism may selectivelyelectrically decouple the first electrical-connection node and thesecond electrical-connection node when the sound exceeds a thresholdvalue, and may selectively electrically couple the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection nodewhen the sound is less than the threshold value. Thus, the controlmechanism may change the control signal based on the presence or absenceof the sound, such as during a telephone call.

Alternatively or additionally, the sensor mechanism may include thefire-detection sensor and the environmental condition may includepresence of fire. In this example, the control mechanism may selectivelyelectrically decouple the first electrical-connection node from thesecond electrical-connection node when the presence of fire is detected.

In another example, the sensor mechanism may include the load-monitoringsensor and the environmental condition may include an electricalcharacteristic associated with the electronic device and/or the secondelectronic device. Then, the control mechanism may selectivelyelectrically decouple the first electrical-connection node from thesecond electrical-connection node when the electrical characteristicindicates a standby operating mode for the electronic device and/or thesecond electronic device. Alternatively or additionally, the selectiveelectrical decoupling may occur when the electrical characteristicindicates a safety concern such as a fire hazard, a short circuit, arisk of electric shock or electrocution, etc.).

In some embodiments, the selective electrical coupling includescurrent-limited coupling between the first electrical-connection nodeand the second electrical-connection node.

Moreover, the selective electrical coupling may include selectivelyswitching between a closed state of the switching mechanism and an openstate of the switching mechanism. Alternatively, the selectiveelectrical coupling may include an impedance value between the impedancevalues when the electrical coupling corresponds to the open state of theswitching mechanism and when the electrical coupling corresponds to theclosed state of the switching mechanism. Consequently, the controlsignal may correspond to a grey-scale value associated with theimpedance value.

Note that the environmental monitoring device may be used in conjunctionwith a variety of electrical standards. Thus, the firstelectrical-connection node may correspond to a first electrical standardhaving a first root-mean-square voltage and the secondelectrical-connection node may correspond to a second electricalstandard having a second root-mean-square voltage.

Furthermore, the environmental monitoring device may include one or moreadditional electrical-connection nodes. For example, there may be athird electrical-connection node, and the control signal may selectivelyelectrically couple the first electrical-connection node and the thirdelectrical-connection node based on the one or more measurements of theenvironmental condition. In some embodiments, the selective electricalcoupling of the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node and the selective electrical coupling of thefirst electrical-connection node and the third electrical-connectionnode are independent of each other. Alternatively, the selectiveelectrical coupling of the first electrical-connection node and thesecond electrical-connection node and the selective electrical couplingof the first electrical-connection node and the thirdelectrical-connection node may depend on each other (such as concurrentor alternating electrical coupling).

While the environmental monitoring device may function independently orwithout direct communication with other electronic devices, in otherembodiments the environmental monitoring device works in conjunctionwith one or more electronic devices that are remotely located from theenvironmental monitoring device. For example, the environmentalmonitoring device may include: an antenna, and an interface circuit thatcommunicates with a third electronic device that is separate from theenvironmental monitoring device. This communication may include anidentifier of the third electronic device, and the control mechanism mayselectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node andthe second electrical-connection node based on the identifier. In someembodiments, this selective electrical coupling is based on a predefinedpreference of an individual associated with the identifier.Alternatively, the communication may include a preference of theindividual, and the selective electrical coupling may be based on thepreference.

Another embodiment provides a computer-program product for use inconjunction with the environmental monitoring device. Thiscomputer-program product may include instructions for at least some ofthe aforementioned operations performed by the environmental monitoringdevice.

Another embodiment provides a method for selectively electricallycoupling the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node in the environmental monitoring device.During operation, the environmental monitoring device obtains one ormore measurements of the environmental condition in the externalenvironment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Forexample, the sensor mechanism may provide sensor data based on the oneor more measurements of the environmental condition or the sensor datamay be received from a remotely located electronic device. Then, acontrol mechanism in the environmental monitoring device provides thecontrol signal to the switching mechanism in the environmentalmonitoring device to selectively electrically couple the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection nodebased on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition.

A second group of described embodiments relates to an environmentalmonitoring device that includes a first electrical-connection node thatelectrically couples to an electronic device that includes a powersource, and a second electrical-connection node that electricallycouples to a second electronic device that includes a rechargeablebattery. Moreover, a switching mechanism (such as a switch) in theenvironmental monitoring device selectively electrically couples thefirst electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connectionnode. Furthermore, a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoringdevice provides sensor data based on one or more measurements of anenvironmental condition that is associated with charging of therechargeable battery. Additionally, a control mechanism in theenvironmental monitoring device provides a control signal to theswitching mechanism to selectively electrically couple the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection nodebased on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition.The control mechanism also selects a charging mode of the rechargeablebattery based on the one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition.

For example, the charging mode may include: a charging profile as afunction of time that increases life of the rechargeable battery, acharging profile as a function of time that reduces a charging time ofthe rechargeable battery, and/or a charging profile as a function oftime that reduces power consumption while charging the rechargeablebattery.

Moreover, the control mechanism may determine information associatedwith one of the electronic device and the second electronic device basedon the one or more measurements of the environmental condition duringoperation of the one of the electronic device and the second electronicdevice. For example, the environmental condition may be associated witha power-up transient signal of the electronic device and/or the secondelectronic device. In addition, the information may be determined basedon a predefined device profile. Note that the information may include: atype of electronic device, a model of electronic device, a brand ofelectronic device, and/or a unique identifier of the one of theelectronic device and the second electronic device.

In some embodiments, the control mechanism predicts failure of at leasta component in one of the electronic device and the second electronicdevice based on the one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition as a function of time. The predicted failure may be based onthe determined information.

Furthermore, the control mechanism may associate a user with thedetermined information based a predefined list of electronic devices ofthe user. Then, the selective electrical coupling of the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node maybe based on a predefined preference of the user.

Additionally, the sensor mechanism may include a load-monitoring sensorand the environmental condition may include an electrical characteristicassociated with the electronic device and/or the second electronicdevice. Then, the control mechanism may selectively electricallydecouple the first electrical-connection node from the second electricalconnection node when the electrical characteristic indicates a standbyoperating mode for the electronic device and/or the second electronicdevice. Alternatively or additionally, the selective electricaldecoupling may occur when the electrical characteristic indicates asafety concern (such as a fire hazard, a short circuit, a risk ofelectric shock or electrocution, etc.). Note that the electricalcharacteristic may include: a current, a voltage, a phase relative to atleast a reference signal, a quality factor, a harmonic of a fundamentalfrequency, a resonance frequency, a time constant, noise, and/or powerconsumption.

Another embodiment provides a computer-program product for use inconjunction with the environmental monitoring device. Thiscomputer-program product may include instructions for at least some ofthe aforementioned operations performed by the environmental monitoringdevice.

Another embodiment provides a method for selectively electricallycoupling the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node in the environmental monitoring device.During operation, the environmental monitoring device receives thesensor data based on the one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition from the sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoringdevice, where the environmental condition is associated with thecharging of the rechargeable battery. Then, a control mechanism in theenvironmental monitoring device provides the control signal to theswitching mechanism in the environmental monitoring device toselectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node andthe second electrical-connection node based on the one or moremeasurements of the environmental condition. Moreover, the controlmechanism selects the charging mode of the rechargeable battery based onthe one or more measurements of the environmental condition.

A third group of described embodiments relates to an environmentalmonitoring device that includes a first electrical-connection node thatelectrically couples to an electronic device, and a secondelectrical-connection node that electrically couples to a secondelectronic device. Moreover, a switching mechanism (such as a switch) inthe environmental monitoring device selectively electrically couples thefirst electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connectionnode. Furthermore, an antenna and an interface circuit in theenvironmental monitoring device communicate with a third electronicdevice that is separate from the environmental monitoring device, wherethe communication includes sensor data based on one or more measurementsby a sensor mechanism in the third electronic device of an environmentalcondition in an external environment that includes the environmentalmonitoring device. Additionally, a control mechanism in theenvironmental monitoring device provides a control signal to theswitching mechanism to selectively electrically couple the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection nodebased on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition.

Note that the sensor data may include: temperature, humidity, acousticinformation, fire-detection information, load-monitoring information,and/or motion information. For example, the sensor data may includeacoustic information and the environmental condition may include a soundin the external environment. Then, the control mechanism may selectivelyelectrically decouple the first electrical-connection node and thesecond electrical-connection node when the sound exceeds a thresholdvalue, and may selectively electrically couple the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection nodewhen the sound is less than the threshold value. Thus, the controlmechanism may change the control signal based on the presence or absenceof the sound, such as during a telephone call.

Alternatively or additionally, the sensor data may include thefire-detection information and the environmental condition may includepresence of fire. In this example, the control mechanism may selectivelyelectrically decouple the first electrical-connection node from thesecond electrical-connection node when the presence of fire is detected.

In another example, the sensor data may include the load-monitoringinformation and the environmental condition may include an electricalcharacteristic associated with the electronic device and/or the secondelectronic device. Then, the control mechanism may selectivelyelectrically decouple the first electrical-connection node from thesecond electrical-connection node when the electrical characteristicindicates a standby operating mode for the electronic device and/or thesecond electronic device. Alternatively or additionally, the selectiveelectrical decoupling may occur when the electrical characteristicindicates a safety concern (such as a fire hazard, a short circuit, arisk of electric shock or electrocution, etc.).

In some embodiments, the selective electrical coupling includescurrent-limited coupling between the first electrical-connection nodeand the second electrical-connection node.

Moreover, the selective electrical coupling may include selectivelyswitching between a closed state of the switching mechanism and an openstate of the switching mechanism. Alternatively, the selectiveelectrical coupling may include an impedance value between the impedancevalues when the electrical coupling corresponds to the open state of theswitching mechanism and when the electrical coupling corresponds to theclosed state of the switching mechanism. Consequently, the controlsignal may correspond to a grey-scale value associated with theimpedance value.

Note that the environmental monitoring device may be used in conjunctionwith a variety of electrical standards. Thus, the firstelectrical-connection node may correspond to a first electrical standardhaving a first root-mean-square voltage and the secondelectrical-connection node may correspond to a second electricalstandard having a second root-mean-square voltage.

Furthermore, the environmental monitoring device may include one or moreadditional electrical-connection nodes. For example, there may be athird electrical-connection node, and the control signal may selectivelyelectrically couple the first electrical-connection node and the thirdelectrical-connection node based on the one or more measurements of theenvironmental condition. In some embodiments, the selective electricalcoupling of the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node and the selective electrical coupling of thefirst electrical-connection node and the third electrical-connectionnode are independent of each other. Alternatively, the selectiveelectrical coupling of the first electrical-connection node and thesecond electrical-connection node and the selective electrical couplingof the first electrical-connection node and the thirdelectrical-connection node may depend on each other (such as concurrentor alternating electrical coupling).

In some embodiments, the communication includes an identifier of thethird electronic device, and the control mechanism selectivelyelectrically couples the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node based on the identifier. For example, thecontrol mechanism may be associated the identifier with a predefinedpreference of an individual, and the selective electrical coupling maybe based on the predefined preference. Alternatively, the communicationmay include a preference of the individual, and the selective electricalcoupling may be based on the preference.

Another embodiment provides a computer-program product for use inconjunction with the environmental monitoring device. Thiscomputer-program product may include instructions for at least some ofthe aforementioned operations performed by the environmental monitoringdevice.

Another embodiment provides a method for selectively electricallycoupling the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node in the environmental monitoring device.During operation, the environmental monitoring device receives, fromanother electronic device (such as the third electronic device), thesensor data based on the one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition in the external environment that includes the environmentalmonitoring device. Then, a control mechanism in the environmentalmonitoring device provides the control signal to the switching mechanismin the environmental monitoring device to selectively electricallycouple the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node based on the one or more measurements of theenvironmental condition.

A fourth group of described embodiments relates to an environmentalmonitoring device that includes a first electrical-connection node thatelectrically couples to an electronic device, and a secondelectrical-connection node that electrically couples to a secondelectronic device. Moreover, a switching mechanism (such as a switch) inthe environmental monitoring device selectively electrically couples thefirst electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connectionnode. Furthermore, an antenna and an interface circuit in theenvironmental monitoring device communicate with a third electronicdevice that is separate from the environmental monitoring device, wherethe communication includes location information of an individual.Additionally, a control mechanism in the environmental monitoring deviceprovides a control signal to the switching mechanism to selectivelyelectrically couple the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node based on one or more measurements of anenvironmental condition in an external environment that includes theenvironmental monitoring device and the location information.

For example, the selective electrical coupling may occur when thelocation information indicates that the individual is within a region.This region may include the external environment. Note that the locationinformation may be based on triangulation and trilateration. Moreover,the location information may be based on: communication in a network, alocal positioning system, and/or a Global Positioning System.Furthermore, the location information may specify the location of theindividual in two dimensions and/or three dimensions. Additionally, thelocation information may include: an absolute position of the individualand/or a position of the individual relative to that of theenvironmental monitoring device.

In some embodiments, the control mechanism calculates, based on thelocation information, a predicted location of the individual and a timewhen the individual is estimated to be proximate to the location. Then,the selective electrical coupling may be based on the predicted locationand the time.

Moreover, the communication may include an identifier of the thirdelectronic device, and the control mechanism may selectivelyelectrically couple the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node based on the identifier. In some embodiments,this selective electrical coupling is based on a predefined preferenceof an individual associated with the identifier. Alternatively, thecommunication may include a preference of the individual, and theselective electrical coupling may be based on the preference.

Furthermore, the environmental monitoring device may include a sensormechanism that provides sensor data based on the one or moremeasurements of the environmental condition. Alternatively, theinterface circuit may communicate with a fourth electronic device thatis separate from the environmental monitoring device, and which includesthe sensor mechanism that provides the sensor data based on the one ormore measurements of the environmental condition. In these embodiments,the communication includes the sensor data.

Another embodiment provides a computer-program product for use inconjunction with the environmental monitoring device. Thiscomputer-program product may include instructions for at least some ofthe aforementioned operations performed by the environmental monitoringdevice.

Another embodiment provides a method for selectively electricallycoupling the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node in the environmental monitoring device.During operation, the environmental monitoring device receives, fromanother electronic device (such as the third electronic device), thelocation information of the individual. Then, a control mechanism in theenvironmental monitoring device provides the control signal to theswitching mechanism in the environmental monitoring device toselectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node andthe second electrical-connection node based on the one or moremeasurements of the environmental condition and the locationinformation.

A fifth group of described embodiments relates to an environmentalmonitoring device that includes a first electrical-connection node thatelectrically couples to an electronic device, and a secondelectrical-connection node that electrically couples to a secondelectronic device. Moreover, a switching mechanism (such as a switch) inthe environmental monitoring device selectively electrically couples thefirst electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connectionnode. Furthermore, a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoringdevice provides sensor data based on one or more measurements of anenvironmental condition that corresponds to (or may be related to or afunction of) power consumption by the electronic device and/or thesecond electronic device. An antenna and an interface circuit in theenvironmental monitoring device communicate with a third electronicdevice that is separate from the environmental monitoring device, wherethe communication includes the environmental condition. Additionally, acontrol mechanism in the environmental monitoring device provides acontrol signal to the switching mechanism to selectively electricallycouple the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node based on the one or more measurements of theenvironmental condition.

For example, the environmental condition may include energy consumptionand/or power consumption. Moreover, the environmental condition mayindicate, during a time interval, usage of the electronic device and/orthe second electronic device (such as whether or not the electronicdevice and/or the second electronic device were used). Alternatively oradditionally, the environmental condition may indicate a duration ofusage of the electronic device and/or the second electronic device.

In some embodiments, the sensor mechanism includes a load-monitoringsensor and the environmental condition includes an electricalcharacteristic associated with the electronic device and/or the secondelectronic device. For example, the electrical characteristic mayinclude: a current, a voltage, a phase relative to at least a referencesignal, a quality factor, a harmonic of a fundamental frequency, aresonance frequency, a time constant, noise, and/or power consumption.Moreover, the environmental condition may be associated with a power-uptransient signal of the electronic device and/or the second electronicdevice. In particular, the electrical characteristic may include atime-varying power consumption of the electronic device and/or thesecond electronic device, where the time variation may include asequence of approximately discrete values (such as two power-consumptionlevels or multiple power-consumption levels). Furthermore, theelectrical characteristic may correspond to (or be related to or afunction of): a pulse-code modulation sequence, a quadrature-modulationsequence, and/or a DC-balanced sequence.

In some embodiments, the selective electrical decoupling occurs when theelectrical characteristic indicates a safety concern (such as a firehazard, a short circuit, a risk of electric shock or electrocution,etc.).

Moreover, the control mechanism may determine information associatedwith one of the electronic device and the second electronic device basedon the one or more measurements environmental condition during operationof the one of the electronic device and the second electronic device.For example, the information may include: a type of electronic device, amodel of electronic device, a brand of electronic device, and/or aunique identifier of the one of the electronic device and the secondelectronic device. Furthermore, the control mechanism may associate auser with the determined information based a predefined list ofelectronic devices of the user. Alternatively or additionally, theselective electrical coupling may be based on a predefined preference ofthe user.

Another embodiment provides a computer-program product for use inconjunction with the environmental monitoring device. Thiscomputer-program product may include instructions for at least some ofthe aforementioned operations performed by the environmental monitoringdevice.

Another embodiment provides a method for selectively electricallycoupling the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node in the environmental monitoring device.During operation, the environmental monitoring device receives, from thesensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device, the sensor databased on the one or more measurements of an environmental condition inthe external environment that includes the environmental monitoringdevice, where the environmental condition corresponds to powerconsumption by the second electronic device that is separate from theenvironmental monitoring device, and that is electrically coupled to thesecond electrical-connection node. Then, a control mechanism in theenvironmental monitoring device provides the control signal to theswitching mechanism in the environmental monitoring device toselectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node andthe second electrical-connection node based on the one or moremeasurements of the environmental condition.

A sixth group of described embodiments relates to an environmentalmonitoring device that includes a first electrical-connection node thatelectrically couples to an electronic device, and a secondelectrical-connection node that electrically couples to a secondelectronic device. Moreover, a switching mechanism (such as a switch) inthe environmental monitoring device selectively electrically couples thefirst electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connectionnode. Furthermore, a control mechanism in the environmental monitoringdevice provides a control signal to the switching mechanism toselectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node andthe second electrical-connection node based on one or more measurementsof an environmental condition in an external environment that includesthe environmental monitoring device. Additionally, an override mechanismin the environmental monitoring device specifies an electrical couplingstate of the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node, where the electrical coupling statespecified by the override mechanism supersedes the selective electricalcoupling specified by the control signal.

Note that the override mechanism may supersede the selective electricalcoupling either directly or indirectly. For example, the overridemechanism may be electrically coupled to the switching mechanism and/orthe control mechanism.

Moreover, the override mechanism may have a first electrical couplingstate and a second electrical coupling state, and may include a switchand/or a button. In a first electrical coupling state of the overridemechanism, the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node may be electrically coupled, and in a secondelectrical coupling state of the override mechanism the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node maybe electrically decoupled.

Furthermore, the environmental monitoring device may include a sensormechanism that provides sensor data based on the one or moremeasurements of the environmental condition. Alternatively oradditionally, the environmental monitoring device includes an antennaand an interface circuit that communicate with a third electronic devicethat is separate from the environmental monitoring device. Thiscommunication may include the sensor data based on the one or moreadditional measurements, provided by the third electronic device, of theenvironmental condition, where the sensor data is associated with thesensor mechanism in the third electronic device. Note that the sensormechanism may include: a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, anacoustic sensor, a fire-detection sensor, a load-monitoring sensor,and/or a motion sensor.

In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring device includes asafety mechanism that detects a safety condition and decouples the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node.For example, the safety mechanism may include an insertion sensor thatdetects insertion of an object other than a plug into a socketassociated with the first electrical-connection node and/or the secondelectrical-connection node. Moreover, the insertion sensor may include:an optical detector, a pressure sensor (such as a spring), a chemicalsensor, and/or an electrical sensor.

Furthermore, the safety condition may involve detecting: insertion ofthe object into a hot contact associated with the socket; and/or aground-fault current.

Additionally, the socket may have a first hole and a second hole, andthe safety condition may involve detecting insertion of the object intothe first hole without insertion of the object into the second hole. Thedetection of the insertion of the object into the first hole and theabsence of detection of the insertion of the object into the second holemay be within a time interval.

Another embodiment provides a computer-program product for use inconjunction with the environmental monitoring device. Thiscomputer-program product may include instructions for at least some ofthe aforementioned operations performed by the environmental monitoringdevice.

Another embodiment provides a method for selectively electricallycoupling the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node in the environmental monitoring device.During operation, the environmental monitoring device obtains the one ormore measurements of the environmental condition in the externalenvironment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Then, thecontrol mechanism in the environmental monitoring device provides thecontrol signal to the switching mechanism in the environmentalmonitoring device to selectively electrically couple the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection nodebased on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition.Next, the override mechanism specifies the electrical coupling state ofthe first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node, where the electrical coupling statespecified by the override mechanism supersedes the selective electricalcoupling specified by the control signal.

The preceding summary is provided as an overview of some exemplaryembodiments and to provide a basic understanding of aspects of thesubject matter described herein. Accordingly, the above-describedfeatures are merely examples and should not be construed as narrowingthe scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way.Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter describedherein will become apparent from the following Detailed Description,Figures, and Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating electronic devices communicatingin accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an environmental monitoringdevice of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a data structure with sensor datain the environmental monitoring device of FIG. 2 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an archive device of FIG. 1 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a data structure with ahistorical record in the archive device of FIG. 4 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a front view of an environmentalmonitoring device in FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a side view of the environmentalmonitoring device in FIG. 6 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating a side view of the environmentalmonitoring device in FIG. 6 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating a front view of an environmentalmonitoring device in FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating a side view of the environmentalmonitoring device in FIG. 9 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for selectivelyelectrically coupling a first electrical-connection node and a secondelectrical-connection node in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a drawing illustrating communication within an environmentalmonitoring device during the method of FIG. 11 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a switch in an environmentalmonitoring device during the method of FIG. 11 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for selectivelyelectrically coupling a first electrical-connection node and a secondelectrical-connection node in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a drawing illustrating identification of an environmentalmonitoring device in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 16 is a drawing illustrating communication within an environmentalmonitoring device during the method of FIG. 14 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for selectivelyelectrically coupling a first electrical-connection node and a secondelectrical-connection node in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a drawing illustrating communication within an environmentalmonitoring device during the method of FIG. 17 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for selectivelyelectrically coupling a first electrical-connection node and a secondelectrical-connection node in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a drawing illustrating communication within an environmentalmonitoring device during the method of FIG. 19 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 is a drawing illustrating geo-fencing service in accordance withan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for selectivelyelectrically coupling a first electrical-connection node and a secondelectrical-connection node in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a drawing illustrating communication within an environmentalmonitoring device during the method of FIG. 22 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for selectivelyelectrically coupling a first electrical-connection node and a secondelectrical-connection node in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 25 is a drawing illustrating communication within an environmentalmonitoring device during the method of FIG. 24 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 26 is a drawing illustrating a safety sensor in the environmentalmonitoring device for safety monitoring in accordance with an embodimentof the present disclosure.

Note that like reference numerals refer to corresponding partsthroughout the drawings. Moreover, multiple instances of the same partare designated by a common prefix separated from an instance number by adash.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one group of embodiments, an environmental monitoring device thatincludes a switching mechanism is described. During operation of theenvironmental monitoring device, the switching mechanism (such as aswitch) selectively electrically couples a first electrical-connectionnode and a second electrical-connection node. For example, using theswitching mechanism, an electronic device that is electrically coupledto the first electrical-connection node may be selectively electricallycoupled to a second electronic device that is electrically coupled tothe second electrical-connection node. The selective electrical couplingmay be based on one or more measurements of an environmental conditionin an external environment that includes the environmental monitoringdevice. Moreover, a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoringdevice may provide sensor data based on the one or more measurements.Alternatively, an antenna and an interface circuit in the environmentalmonitoring device may receive the sensor data from a third electronicdevice.

In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates switchingbased on the environmental condition in the environment. For example,when a sound is present, a fire is detected, or an electricalcharacteristic of one of the electronic device and the second electronicdevice indicates a safety concern (such as a fire hazard, a shortcircuit, a risk of electric shock or electrocution, etc.), the firstelectrical-connection node may be electrically decoupled from the secondelectrical-connection node. Consequently, the environmental monitoringdevice may allow the switch state (i.e., the selective electricalcoupling) to be dynamically adapted based on changing environmentalconditions. This capability may allow the environmental monitoringdevice to work in conjunction with legacy electronic devices (i.e.,without direct electrical coupling of instructions or withoutcommunication with the legacy electronic devices) and/or in conjunctionwith electronic devices that communicate directly with or that areelectrically coupled to the environmental monitoring device. Thus, theenvironmental monitoring device may offer improved functionality andservices, thereby promoting sales of the environmental monitoring device(and, more generally, commercial activity) and enhancing customersatisfaction with the environmental monitoring device.

In a second group of embodiments, an environmental monitoring devicethat includes a switching mechanism is described. During operation ofthe environmental monitoring device, the switching mechanism (such as aswitch) selectively electrically couples a first electrical-connectionnode and a second electrical-connection node. For example, using theswitching mechanism, an electronic device having a power source may beselectively electrically coupled to a second electronic device having arechargeable battery. The selective electrical coupling may be based onone or more measurements of an environmental condition in an externalenvironment that includes the environmental monitoring device by asensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device. Thisenvironmental condition may be associated with charging of therechargeable battery. In addition, a control mechanism in theenvironmental monitoring device selects a charging mode of therechargeable battery based on the one or more measurements of theenvironmental condition.

In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates switchingbased on the charging of the rechargeable battery (such as a chargingstate of the rechargeable battery). For example, this capability mayallow the environmental monitoring device to: increase or maximize thelife of the rechargeable battery, reduce or minimize the charging time,and/or reduce or minimize energy consumption during the charging.Moreover, the environmental monitoring device may allow the rechargeablebattery to be safely charged, e.g., by identifying a safety concern(such as a fire hazard, a short circuit, a risk of electric shock orelectrocution, etc.). In addition, the environmental monitoring devicemay allow the impending failure of a component in the rechargeablebattery (or an electronic device that includes the rechargeable battery)to be determined. Consequently, the environmental monitoring device mayprovide efficient and safe charging of the rechargeable battery, whichmay increase customer satisfaction and, thus, may promote sales of theenvironmental monitoring device (and, more generally, commercialactivity).

In a third group of embodiments, an environmental monitoring device thatincludes a switching mechanism is described. During operation of theenvironmental monitoring device, the switching mechanism (such as aswitch) selectively electrically couples a first electrical-connectionnode and a second electrical-connection node. For example, using theswitching mechanism, an electronic device that is electrically coupledto the first electrical-connection node may be selectively electricallycoupled to a second electronic device that is electrically coupled tothe second electrical-connection node. Moreover, an antenna and aninterface circuit in the environmental monitoring device may receivesensor data from a third electronic device based on one or moremeasurements of an environmental condition in an external environmentthat includes the environmental monitoring device. Furthermore, theselective electrical coupling may be based on the one or moremeasurements of the environmental condition.

In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates switchingbased on distributed measurements of the environmental condition in theenvironment (such as by a sensor mechanism in the third electronicdevice, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device). Forexample, when a sound is present, a fire is detected, or an electricalcharacteristic of one of the electronic device and the second electronicdevice indicates a safety concern (such as a fire hazard, a shortcircuit, a risk of electric shock or electrocution, etc.), the firstelectrical-connection node may be electrically decoupled from the secondelectrical-connection node. Consequently, the environmental monitoringdevice may allow the switch state (i.e., the selective electricalcoupling) to be dynamically adapted based on changing environmentalconditions. This capability may allow the environmental monitoringdevice to work in conjunction with legacy electronic devices (i.e.,without direct electrical coupling of instructions or withoutcommunication with the legacy electronic devices) and/or in conjunctionwith electronic devices that communicate directly with or that areelectrically coupled to the environmental monitoring device. Thus, theenvironmental monitoring device may offer improved functionality andservices, thereby promoting sales of the environmental monitoring device(and, more generally, commercial activity) and enhancing customersatisfaction with the environmental monitoring device.

In a fourth group of embodiments, an environmental monitoring devicethat includes a switching mechanism is described. During operation ofthe environmental monitoring device, the switching mechanism (such as aswitch) selectively electrically couples a first electrical-connectionnode and a second electrical-connection node. For example, using theswitching mechanism, an electronic device that is electrically coupledto the first electrical-connection node may be selectively electricallycoupled to a second electronic device that is electrically coupled tothe second electrical-connection node. Moreover, an antenna and aninterface circuit in the environmental monitoring device may receivelocation information for an individual from a third electronic device.Furthermore, the selective electrical coupling may be based on one ormore measurements of an environmental condition in an externalenvironment that includes the environmental monitoring device and thelocation information. Note that a sensor mechanism in the environmentalmonitoring device may provide sensor data based on the one or moremeasurements. Alternatively, the antenna and the interface circuit inthe environmental monitoring device may receive the sensor data from afourth electronic device.

In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates switchingbased on the environmental condition in the environment and the locationof the individual. For example, when the individual is in a region thatincludes the environmental monitoring device and the environmentalcondition matches one or more preferences of the individual, the firstelectrical-connection node may be electrically decoupled from the secondelectrical-connection node. Consequently, the environmental monitoringdevice may allow the switch state (i.e., the selective electricalcoupling) to be dynamically adapted based on changing environmentalconditions and the changing location of the individual. Thus, theenvironmental monitoring device may offer improved functionality andservices, thereby promoting sales of the environmental monitoring device(and, more generally, commercial activity) and enhancing customersatisfaction with the environmental monitoring device.

In a fifth group of embodiments, an environmental monitoring device thatincludes a switching mechanism is described. During operation of theenvironmental monitoring device, the switching mechanism (such as aswitch) selectively electrically couples a first electrical-connectionnode and a second electrical-connection node. For example, using theswitching mechanism, an electronic device that is electrically coupledto the first electrical-connection node may be selectively electricallycoupled to a second electronic device that is electrically coupled tothe second electrical-connection node. The selective electrical couplingmay be based on one or more measurements of an environmental conditionin an external environment that includes the environmental monitoringdevice by a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device.This environmental condition corresponds to power consumption by theelectronic device and/or the second electronic device. Moreover, anantenna and an interface circuit in the environmental monitoring devicecommunicate the environmental condition with a third electronic device.

In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates switchingbased on the energy consumption or the power consumption of theelectronic device and/or the second electronic device. For example, theenvironmental condition may indicate usage of the electronic deviceand/or the second electronic device and/or a duration of usage of theelectronic device and/or the second electronic device. Moreover, if anelectrical characteristic of one of the electronic device and the secondelectronic device indicates a safety concern (such as a fire hazard, ashort circuit, a risk of electric shock or electrocution, etc.), thefirst electrical-connection node may be electrically decoupled from thesecond electrical-connection node. Consequently, the environmentalmonitoring device may allow the switch state (i.e., the selectiveelectrical coupling) to be dynamically adapted based on changingenvironmental conditions. Thus, the environmental monitoring device mayoffer improved functionality and services, thereby promoting sales ofthe environmental monitoring device (and, more generally, commercialactivity) and enhancing customer satisfaction with the environmentalmonitoring device.

In a sixth group of embodiments, an environmental monitoring device thatincludes a switching mechanism is described. During operation of theenvironmental monitoring device, the switching mechanism (such as aswitch) selectively electrically couples a first electrical-connectionnode and a second electrical-connection node. For example, using theswitching mechanism, an electronic device that is electrically coupledto the first electrical-connection node may be selectively electricallycoupled to a second electronic device that is electrically coupled tothe second electrical-connection node. The selective electrical couplingmay be based on one or more measurements of an environmental conditionin an external environment that includes the environmental monitoringdevice by a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device.Moreover, an override mechanism in the environmental monitoring devicecan specify an electrical coupling state of the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection nodethat supersedes the selective electrical coupling based on theenvironmental condition.

In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates switchingbased on the environmental condition in the environment while allowing auser of the environmental monitoring device to override the selectiveelectrical coupling. Consequently, the environmental monitoring devicemay allow the switch state (i.e., the selective electrical coupling) tobe dynamically adapted based on changing environmental conditions whileensuring, as needed, that the user maintains control. These capabilitiesmay allow the environmental monitoring device to offer improvedfunctionality and services, thereby promoting sales of the environmentalmonitoring device (and, more generally, commercial activity) andenhancing customer satisfaction with the environmental monitoringdevice.

Note that the technique for monitoring an environmental condition is notan abstract idea. In particular, the measurements and the selectiveelectrical coupling included in the technique for monitoring theenvironmental condition are not: a fundamental economic principle, ahuman activity (the operations in the technique for monitoring theenvironmental condition significantly exceed those of a human becausethey may involve measurements of the very large number of samples,parameters or factors in a noisy environment, as well as optionalwireless communication), and/or a mathematical relationship/formula.Moreover, the technique for monitoring the environmental conditionamounts to significantly more than an alleged abstract idea. Inparticular, the technique for monitoring the environmental condition mayimprove the functioning of an environmental monitoring device, anelectronic device, a computer and/or the computer system that executessoftware and/or implements the technique for monitoring theenvironmental condition. For example, the technique for monitoring theenvironmental condition may: speed up computations performed during thetechnique for monitoring the environmental condition; reduce memoryconsumption when performing the computations (e.g., by using adistributed or disseminated architecture); improve reliability of thecomputations (as evidenced by improved monitoring and/or adjustment ofthe environmental condition); reduce network latency (e.g., by using thedistributed or disseminated architecture); improve the user-friendlinessof a user interface that displays results of the computations (e.g., byallowing a user to view information about the environmental conditionand/or to modify a setting of the environmental monitoring device);and/or improve other performance metrics related to the function of theenvironmental monitoring device, the electronic device, the computerand/or the computer system.

Communication between electronic devices (such as the environmentalmonitoring device and an alarm device) may utilize wired, optical and/orwireless communication. For example, the wireless communication mayinvolve communicating packets or frames that are transmitted andreceived by radios in the electronic devices in accordance with acommunication protocol, such as: Bluetooth™ (from the Bluetooth SpecialInterest Group of Kirkland, Wash.), an Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15 standard (such as ZigBee® from theZigBee® Alliance of San Ramon, Calif.), an Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, Z-Wave, a power-linecommunication standard, an infra-red communication standard, a universalserial bus (USB) communication standard, a near-field-communicationstandard or specification (from the NFC Forum of Wakefield, Mass.),another wireless ad-hoc network standard, and/or another type ofwireless interface. In some embodiments, the communication protocol maybe compatible with a 2^(nd) generation or mobile telecommunicationtechnology, a 3^(rd) generation of mobile telecommunications technology(such as a communication protocol that complies with the InternationalMobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the InternationalTelecommunication Union of Geneva, Switzerland), a 4^(th) generation ofmobile telecommunications technology (such as a communication protocolthat complies with the International Mobile Telecommunications Advancedspecification by the International Telecommunication Union of Geneva,Switzerland), and/or another cellular-telephone communication technique.For example, the communication protocol may include Long Term Evolutionor LTE. In the discussion that follows, Zig-Bee® is used as anillustrative example. In addition, the communication may occur via awide variety of frequency bands, including frequencies associated withthe so-called ‘white space’ in frequencies bands associated with analogtelevision broadcasting.

The communication between the electronic devices is shown in FIG. 1,which presents a block diagram illustrating communication amongenvironmental monitoring devices 110, optional electronic devices 114(such as regulator devices e.g., optional electronic device 114-2,and/or legacy electronic devices, e.g., optional electronic device114-1) and data-sharing electronic device 118 using wireless signals,and communication with optional computer 120 and optional network 122(such as the Internet, a wireless local area network, an Ethernetnetwork, an intra-net, an optical network, etc.) and aggregating orarchive device 116 (which may or may not involve wireless signals). Inparticular, the communication between environmental monitoring devices110, optional electronic devices 114, archive device 116, data-sharingelectronic device 118 and/or optional computer 120 may involve theexchange of packets. These packets may be included in frames in one ormore wireless channels.

Moreover, as described further below with reference to FIG. 2,environmental monitoring devices 110, archive device 116, data-sharingelectronic device 118, optional computer 120 and/or optionally some ofoptional electronic devices 114 (such as optional electronic device114-2) may include subsystems, such as: a networking subsystem, a memorysubsystem, a processing subsystem, an optional user-interface subsystem,and a sensor subsystem. In addition, these electronic devices mayinclude radios 126 in the networking subsystems. More generally,environmental monitoring devices 110, archive device 116, data-sharingelectronic device 118, optional computer 120 and/or optionally some ofoptional electronic devices 114 can include (or can be included within)any electronic devices with networking subsystems that enable wirelesslycommunication with another electronic device. This can comprisetransmitting frames on wireless channels to enable the electronicdevices to make initial contact, followed by exchanging subsequentdata/management frames (such as connect requests or petitions toestablish a connection or link), configuring security options (e.g.,encryption on a link or in a mesh network), transmitting and receivingpackets or frames, etc.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, wireless signals 124 (represented by jaggedlines) are transmitted from/received by radios 126 in environmentalmonitoring devices 110, data-sharing electronic device 118, optionalcomputer and/or optionally some of optional electronic devices 114 (suchas optional electronic device 114-2). In general, wireless communicationamong these electronic devices may or may not involve a connection beingestablished among the electronic devices, and therefore may or may notinvolve communication via a wireless network. (Note that thecommunication between optional computer 120 and archive device 116 mayoccur via optional network 122, which may involve wired or opticalcommunication with a different communication protocol than wirelesssignals 124.)

Furthermore, the processing of a packet or frame in an electronic device(such as environmental monitoring device 110-1) may include: receivingwireless signals 124 with the packet or frame; decoding/extracting thepacket or frame from received wireless signals 124 to acquire the packetor frame; and processing the packet or frame to determine informationcontained in the packet or frame (such as at least a portion of acertified data packet).

As described further below with reference to FIGS. 11-26, environmentalmonitoring devices 110 may monitor environmental conditions in anenvironment 112 (which is sometimes referred to as an ‘externalenvironment’), such as a portion of a building, the building, acontainer or a package, a vehicle, a liquid, and/or a train car. (Notethat one or more of environmental monitoring devices 110 may be immersedin a liquid, and environment 112 may be at a fixed location ortime-varying locations.) For example, at least some of environmentalmonitoring devices 110 may include sensors (or sensor devices) thatprovide sensor data that reflects the environmental conditions inenvironment 112. In general, the sensor data may be provided without orexcluding interaction (such as communication and/or electrical coupling)among environmental monitoring devices 110 and optional electronicdevices 114. Thus, sensors in environmental monitoring devices 110 mayindirectly infer information about the operation and/or the performanceof optional electronic devices 114 based on the monitored environmentalconditions. However, in some embodiments at least some of environmentalmonitoring devices 110 interact directly with at least some of optionalelectronic devices 114 (via communication or electrical coupling),thereby facilitating direct measurement of the sensor data, as well asfeedback control of these electronic devices by at least some ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110. In some embodiments, one or moreof environmental monitoring devices 110 is integrated into one or moreother electronic device, such as one or more of optional electronicdevices 114.

The sensor data may be analyzed locally by at least one of environmentalmonitoring devices 110 and/or remotely by archive device 116. Moreover,the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data may be communicatedamong environmental monitoring devices 110. In particular, environmentalmonitoring devices 110 may form a ZigBee® mesh network, with ZigBee® enddevices communicating with a ZigBee® coordinator (such as environmentalmonitoring device 110-1) via one or more optional ZigBee® routers. Then,environmental monitoring device 110-1 may communicate (wirelessly and/orvia optional computer 120 and optional network 122) the sensor dataand/or the analyzed sensor data to archive device 116.

In addition, the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data may becommunicated or shared with one or more other electronic devices, suchas data-sharing electronic device 118 (e.g., a cellular telephone or aportable electronic device) and/or remote servers or computers not shownin FIG. 1. For example, the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor datamay be communicated to data-sharing electronic device 118 by at leastsome of environmental monitoring devices 110, such as the one or moreoptional ZigBee® routers and/or the ZigBee® coordinator. (Thus, at leastsome of environmental monitoring devices 110 may function as sensor-datahubs for other environmental monitoring devices 110.) Alternatively, thesensor data, the analyzed sensor data and/or operational information(such as remaining battery life) about at least some of environmentalmonitoring devices 110 may be communicated to data-sharing electronicdevice 118 by archive device 116 using wired, optical and/or wirelesscommunication. Data-sharing electronic device 118 may display or providethis information to a user. In some embodiments, data-sharing electronicdevice 118 compares the information from multiple environmentalmonitoring devices 110 to ensure consistency before presenting theinformation to the user. This may reduce the likelihood of false alarmsor misinformation. Alternatively, data-sharing electronic device 118 canpresent comparisons of the information from multiple environmentalmonitoring devices 110.

The sensor data, the analyzed sensor data and/or information that iscommunicated and/or stored by environmental monitoring devices 110and/or archive device 116 may be protected. This may involve encryptionusing an encryption key (such as an encryption key associated with oneof environmental monitoring devices 110 and/or a secure channel in aprocessor in one of environmental monitoring devices 110). Theencryption key may use symmetric or asymmetric encryption techniques.Alternatively or additionally, a secure or one-way cryptographic hashfunction (such as SHA-256) may be used. For example, the secure hash maysupplement encryption that is associated with a network interface in oneor more of environmental monitoring devices 110. In some embodiments,the information communicated and/or stored in FIG. 1 is digitally signedby environmental monitoring devices 110.

Furthermore, archive device 116 may store the sensor data and/or theanalyzed sensor data in secure, certified historical records or logs ofthe environmental conditions in environment 112. In principle, theinformation stored by archive device 116 may be protected. However, insome embodiments, users of environmental monitoring devices 110, who, ingeneral, control how their data is used and shared, may instructenvironmental monitoring devices 110 to provide, via the mesh network,information to archive device 116 that allows archive device 116 tounprotect the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data. Similarly, inresponse to requests from authorized recipients for the sensor dataand/or the analyzed sensor data (such as a request from data-sharingelectronic device 118), archive device 116 may provide access to thestored sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data. If the sensor dataand/or the analyzed sensor data are protected, the associatedenvironmental monitoring devices 110 may provide protection informationto data-sharing electronic device 118 that allows data-sharingelectronic device 118 to unprotect the sensor data and/or the analyzedsensor data.

Environmental monitoring devices 110 may allow a variety of services tobe offered to: users associated with environmental monitoring devices110 (such as owners or renters of these environmental monitoringdevices), suppliers of components or spare parts, maintenance personnel,security personnel, emergency service personnel, insurance companies,insurance brokers, realtors, leasing agents, apartment renters, hotelguests, hotels, restaurants, businesses, organizations, governments,potential buyers of physical objects, a shipping or transportationcompany, etc. For example, based on the analyzed sensor data feedbackabout the operation of one or more of optional electronic devices 114(such as a legacy electronic device) may be provided by one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110 on displays, using speakers and,more generally, on physiological output devices that provide sensoryinformation (such as lighting or an illumination pattern). Thus, a usermay be alerted if a legacy electronic device is activated or if it isnot functioning properly. More generally, the feedback may indicate thepresence of an environmental condition in environment 112, such as:presence of an allergen, fire, flooding, a power outage, a chemicalcontaminant, an infestation, opening of a door, an individual enteringor leaving a room, an individual getting out of bed, an individualwaking up, an individual crying, an individual tossing and turning inbed, an individual shivering, a change in health condition of anindividual (such as an illness, a chronic disease, etc.), etc.

Additionally, one or more of environmental monitoring devices 110provide a maintenance notification based on the analyzed sensor data,which is associated with the operation of one of optional electronicdevices 114 (such as a legacy electronic device or an electronic devicethat is included in a feedback loop with one of environmental monitoringdevices 110) and/or which represents an environmental condition inenvironment 112. For example, the maintenance notification may includean instruction to replace a battery. In addition, the maintenancenotification and any subsequent remedial action (such as a repair orservice performed on one of optional electronic devices 114) may bestored in a historical record or log for environment 112 (such as ahistorical record maintained by archive device 116).

In some embodiments, a regulator device (such as one of optionalelectronic devices 114, e.g., a thermostat, a humidifier, an airpurifier, a ventilator device, a fan, a motor, a window opener, a dooropener, an access-control device for the environment, etc.) thatregulates an environmental condition is modified based on a comparisonof the sensor data and a target value of the environmental condition inenvironment 112. For example, one of environmental monitoring devices110 may provide a control signal to the regulator device to modify anenvironmental condition (such as the temperature, humidity, airflow,etc.) based on a comparison of the sensor data and a target valueperformed by the environmental monitoring device, or another technique(which may be implemented using software) that uses an environmentalcondition as an input. (Note that the regulator device may include itsown environmental sensor or thermostat, as well as a control mechanismand/or a switching mechanism to turn the regulator device on and offbased on measurements provided by the environmental sensor. Thus,environmental monitoring devices 110 may perform measurements and/orselectively electrically couple the regulator device to a power sourceusing an environmental sensor, control mechanism and/or a switchingmechanism that are in addition to those included in the regulatordevice.)

Instead of providing the control signal to the regulator device, one ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110 may perform the same function byselectively electrically coupling the regulator device to a power sourceusing a switch (or a switching mechanism) in the environmentalmonitoring device (and, thus, external to the regulator device). Moregenerally, environmental monitoring devices 110 may selectivelyelectrically couple or decouple one or more of the electronic devices inFIG. 1 from each other and/or one or more power sources (such as a walloutlet) based on one or more of the monitored environmental conditions.As described further below with reference to FIGS. 11-26, thiscapability may allow the environmental monitoring devices 110 to respondto and/or modify the one or more environmental conditions. For example,when an acoustic sensor detects sound (such as that associated with aphone call or the opening or closing of a door), a noisy piece ofequipment may be decoupled from a power source. Alternatively oradditionally, when a fire-detection sensor detects the presence of fireor when a load-monitoring sensor detects an electrical characteristicsuch as a current, a voltage, a phase relative to at least a referencesignal, a quality factor, a harmonic of a fundamental frequency, aresonance frequency, a time constant, noise, power consumption, etc.)that indicates there is a safety concern, the switch may change state toselectively decouple one or more of the electronic devices in FIG. 1from other electronic devices and/or the one or more power sources.Similarly, the monitored electrical characteristic may be used tocontrol the charging of a rechargeable battery and, in particular, toselect a charging mode of the rechargeable battery. This may allow thelife of the rechargeable battery to be increased, the charging time tobe reduced and/or the power consumption during the recharging to beincreased.

Furthermore, the environmental condition may include or correspond to(e.g., may be related to or a function of) power consumption by at leastone of the electronic devices in FIG. 1. In these embodiments,environmental monitoring devices 110 may monitor and/or regulate thepower consumption. Thus, the selective electrical coupling may be basedon usage and/or a duration of usage of the at least one of theelectronic devices in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the selectiveelectrical coupling is based on additional parameters, such as one ormore preferences of an individual and/or a current or predicted location(and arrival time) of an individual, which may allow environmentalmonitoring devices 110 to provide services such as so-called‘geo-fencing’ or a ‘geo-fencing service’ (e.g., where the selectiveelectrical coupling occurs when the individual is within a particularregion, at a particular location or not at the particular location).

In these ways, environmental monitoring devices 110 and/or archivedevice 116 may be used to: implement an information network with one ormore legacy electronic devices; securely aggregate and selectivelydisseminate sensor data about environmental conditions; provide feedbackabout one or more environmental conditions in environment 112 (such asan alert provided by one of optional electronic devices 114); allowusers to remotely control alerts provided by environmental monitoringdevices 110 by modifying alert settings of environmental monitoringdevices 110; selectively change a switching state of a switch in atleast one of environmental monitoring devices 110 based at least on oneor more environmental conditions in environment 112; and facilitatemonitoring and maintaining of the one or more environmental conditionsin environment 112.

Although we describe the environment shown in FIG. 1 as an example, inalternative embodiments, different numbers or types of electronicdevices may be present. For example, some embodiments comprise more orfewer electronic devices.

We now describe embodiments of the environmental monitoring device, thearchive device, and other electronic devices in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 presentsa block diagram illustrating environmental monitoring device 200, suchas one of environmental monitoring devices 110. This electronic deviceincludes processing subsystem 210 (and, more generally, a controlmechanism), memory subsystem 212, a networking subsystem 214, anoptional user-interface subsystem 216, optional sensor subsystem 218(i.e., a data-collection subsystem and, more generally, a sensormechanism), feedback subsystem 232, power subsystem 246 and switchingsubsystem 250. Processing subsystem 210 includes one or more devicesconfigured to perform computational operations and to executedtechniques to process sensor data. For example, processing subsystem 210can include one or more microprocessors, application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), microcontrollers, programmable-logic devices, and/orone or more digital signal processors (DSPs).

In addition, processing subsystem 210 may include an optional securechannel 220, which is a system-on-chip within one or more processors inprocessing subsystem 210 that: performs secure processing ofinformation, securely communicates with other components inenvironmental monitoring device 200, and more generally performs secureservices. This secure channel may include one or more processors, asecure boot ROM, one or more security peripherals, and/or othercomponents. The security peripherals may be hardware-configured toassist in the secure services performed by optional secure channel 220.For example, the security peripherals may include: authenticationhardware implementing various authentication techniques, encryptionhardware configured to perform encryption, secure-interface controllersconfigured to communicate over a secure interface to other components,and/or other components. In some embodiments, instructions executable byoptional secure channel 220 are stored in a trust zone in memorysubsystem 212 that is assigned to optional secure channel 220, andoptional secure channel 220 fetches the instructions from the trust zonefor execution. Optional secure channel 220 may be isolated from the restof processing subsystem 210 except for a carefully controlled interface,thus forming a secure region for optional secure channel 220 and itscomponents. Because the interface to optional secure channel 220 iscarefully controlled, direct access to components within optional securechannel 220 (such as a processor or a secure boot ROM) may be prevented.In some embodiments, optional secure channel 220 encrypts and/ordecrypts authentication information communicated with optionaluser-interface subsystem 216 and/or received via networking subsystem214, and encrypts and/or decrypts information (such as sensor data)communicated with optional sensor subsystem 218.

Memory subsystem 212 includes one or more devices for storing dataand/or instructions for processing subsystem 210, networking subsystem214, optional user-interface subsystem 216 and/or optional sensorsubsystem 218. For example, memory subsystem 212 can include dynamicrandom access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), and/orother types of memory. In some embodiments, instructions for processingsubsystem 210 in memory subsystem 212 include: one or more programmodules 238 or sets of instructions (such as an environmental monitoringapplication, an environmentally gated switching program, a data-loggingapplication, a data-sharing application and/or a maintenanceapplication), which may be executed in an operating environment (such asoperating system 236) by processing subsystem 210. Note that the one ormore computer programs may constitute a computer-program mechanism or aprogram module. Moreover, instructions in the various modules in memorysubsystem 212 may be implemented in: a high-level procedural language,an object-oriented programming language, and/or in an assembly ormachine language. Furthermore, the programming language may be compiledor interpreted, e.g., configurable or configured (which may be usedinterchangeably in this discussion), to be executed by processingsubsystem 210.

In addition, memory subsystem 212 can include mechanisms for controllingaccess to the memory. In some embodiments, memory subsystem 212 includesa memory hierarchy that comprises one or more caches coupled to a memoryin environmental monitoring device 200. In some of these embodiments,one or more of the caches is located in processing subsystem 210.

In some embodiments, memory subsystem 212 is coupled to one or morehigh-capacity mass-storage devices (not shown). For example, memorysubsystem 212 can be coupled to a magnetic or optical drive, asolid-state drive, or another type of mass-storage device. In theseembodiments, memory subsystem 212 can be used by environmentalmonitoring device 200 as fast-access storage for often-used data, whilethe mass-storage device is used to store less frequently used data.

Networking subsystem 214 includes one or more devices configured tocouple to and communicate on a wired, optical and/or wireless network(i.e., to perform network operations), including an interface circuit222 (such as a ZigBee® communication circuit) and one or more antennas224. For example, networking subsystem 214 can include: a ZigBee®networking subsystem, a Bluetooth™ networking system (which can includeBluetooth™ Low Energy, BLE or Bluetooth™ LE), a cellular networkingsystem (e.g., a 3G/4G network such as UMTS, LTE, etc.), a USB networkingsystem, a networking system based on the standards described in IEEE802.11 (e.g., a Wi-Fi® networking system), an Ethernet networkingsystem, an infra-red communication system, a power-line communicationsystem and/or another communication system (such as anear-field-communication system or an ad-hoc-network networking system).

Moreover, networking subsystem 214 includes processors, controllers,radios/antennas, sockets/plugs, and/or other devices used for couplingto, communicating on, and handling data and events for each supportednetworking or communication system. Note that mechanisms used forcoupling to, communicating on, and handling data and events on thenetwork for each network system are sometimes collectively referred toas a ‘network interface’ for the network system. Moreover, in someembodiments a ‘network’ between the electronic devices does not yetexist. Therefore, environmental monitoring device 200 may use themechanisms in networking subsystem 214 for performing simple wirelesscommunication between environmental monitoring device 200 and otherelectronic devices, e.g., transmitting advertising frames, petitions,beacons and/or information associated with near-field communication.

Optional user-interface subsystem 216 may include one or moreprocessors, controllers and devices for receiving information for a userof environmental monitoring device 200. For example, optionaluser-interface subsystem 216 may include a user-interface device 226(and, more generally, a user-input mechanism), such as: a keypad, atouch-sensitive display, optical character recognition, imagerecognition, gesture recognition, biometric recognition (such as afingerprint, a palm print, a retinal pattern, etc.), and/or voicerecognition. The information may include: authentication informationfrom the user (such as a passcode or a security code for unlockingaccess to environmental monitoring device 200, some of the functionalityof environmental monitoring device 200 and/or to allow environmentalmonitoring device 200 to be moved from a current location);user-feedback about a request for access to sensor data associated withenvironmental monitoring device 200; and/or user preferences foroperation of environmental monitoring device 200 (such as alarmsettings, when and/or how to provide notifications, etc.). Thisinformation may be securely communicated to processing subsystem 210(such as by encrypting the information). In addition, the informationcommunicated may also include an encryption key that is specific toenvironmental monitoring device 200 and/or components in environmentalmonitoring device 200, such as optional secure channel 220.

Furthermore, optional sensor subsystem 218 may include one or moresensor devices 228 (or a sensor array), which may include one or moreprocessors and memory. For example, the one or more sensor devices 228may include: a thermal sensor (such as a thermometer), a humiditysensor, a barometer, a camera or video recorder (such as a CCD or CMOSimaging sensor), one or more microphones (which may be able to recordacoustic information, including acoustic information in an audio hand offrequencies, in mono or stereo), a load-monitoring sensor (and, moregenerally, a sensor that monitors one or more electricalcharacteristics), an infrared sensor (which may be active or passive), amicroscope, a particle detector (such as a detector of dander, pollen,dust, exhaust, etc.), an air-quality sensor, a particle sensor, anoptical particle sensor, an ionization particle sensor, a smoke detector(such as an optical smoke detector or an ionizing smoke detector), afire-detection sensor, a radon detector, a carbon-monoxide detector, achemical sensor or detector, a volatile-organic-compound sensor, acombustible gas sensor, a chemical-analysis device, a mass spectrometer,a microanalysis device, a nano-plasmonic sensor, a genetic sensor (suchas a micro-array), an accelerometer, a position or a location sensor(such as a location sensor based on the Global Positioning System orGPS), a gyroscope, a motion sensor (such as a light-beam sensor), acontact sensor, a strain sensor (such as a strain gauge), a proximitysensor, a microwave/radar sensor (which may be active or passive), anultrasound sensor, a vibration sensor, a fluid flow sensor, aphoto-detector, a Geiger counter, a radio-frequency radiation detector,and/or another device that measures a physical effect or thatcharacterizes an environmental factor or physical phenomenon (eitherdirectly or indirectly).

Moreover, the one or more sensor devices 228 may include redundancy(such as multiple instances of a type of sensor device) to addresssensor failure or erroneous readings, to provide improved accuracyand/or to provide improved precision. Note that sensor data acquired bythe one or more sensor devices 228 may be securely communicated toprocessing subsystem 210 (such as by encrypting the sensor data). Inaddition, the sensor data communicated may also include a digitalsignature that is specific to environmental monitoring device 200 and/orcomponents in environmental monitoring device 200, such as optionalsecure channel 220.

Feedback subsystem 232 may include a display 234 for displayinginformation; such as: feedback about an environmental condition in anenvironment that includes environmental monitoring device 200,information about the operation of environmental monitoring device 200,and/or a maintenance notification associated with a regulator device inthe environment or environmental monitoring device 200 (such as when oneof one or more power sources 248 needs to be replaced). In particular,feedback subsystem 232 may include a display driver and display 234,such as: a liquid-crystal display, an c-ink display, an organic lightemitting diode display, a braille output device, a laser projectiondisplay, a multi-touch touchscreen, a color-wheel display and, moregenerally, a device for visually displaying or providing information.Note that display subsystem 232 may be included in optionaluser-interface subsystem 216.

In addition, feedback subsystem 232 may include one or more lightsources 242 (and, more generally, an illumination mechanism), such as:incandescent light sources, electroluminescent light sources (e.g.,light emitting diodes), etc. These light sources may provide differentillumination patterns or illumination sequences, which may beprogrammable. The different illumination patterns may have: differentspatial patterns in the environment that includes environmentalmonitoring device 200, different wavelengths of light and/or differentlight intensities. The different illumination sequences can include:pulse width modulation, flashing sequences of lights of one or morecolors or intensities, a flashing sequence of long, medium and/or shortduration flashes or pulses (such as flashes having a duration of 10, 1or 0.1 s, respectively), or any other suitable illumination sequence.Thus, a particular illumination pattern may illuminate at least aportion of the environment (such as by providing a green color whenenvironmental monitoring device 200 is supplying power to anotherelectronic device and/or by providing a blue color when environmentalmonitoring device 200 is communicating via a network).

Moreover, environmental monitoring device 200 may include powersubsystem 246 with one or more power sources 248. Each of these powersources may include: a battery (such as a rechargeable or anon-rechargeable battery), a DC power supply, a transformer, and/or aswitched-mode power supply. Moreover, the one or more power sources 248may operate in a voltage-limited mode or a current-limited mode.Furthermore, these power sources may be mechanically and electricallycoupled by a male or female adaptor to a wall or electrical-outletsocket or plug (such as a two or three-pronged electrical-outlet plug,which may be collapsible or retractable), a light socket (or light-bulbsocket), electrical wiring (such as a multi-wire electrical terminal), agenerator, a USB port or connector, a DC-power plug or socket, acellular-telephone charger cable, a photodiode, a photovoltaic cell,etc. This mechanical and electrical coupling may be rigid or may beremateable. As described further below with reference to FIGS. 11-13,the one or more power sources 248 may be mechanically and electricallycoupled to an external power source or another electronic device by oneof the electrical-connection nodes in switch 252 in switching subsystem250.

In some embodiments, power subsystem 246 includes or functions as apass-through power supply for an electrical connector to an externalelectronic device (such as an appliance) that can be plugged into theelectrical connector. Power to this electrical connector (and, thus, theexternal electronic device) may be controlled locally by processingsubsystem 210, optional user-interface subsystem 216, feedback subsystem232 (such as via optional switch 244), switching subsystem 250 (such asby switch 252), and/or remotely via networking subsystem 214. Moreover,the power to the electrical connector may be turned on or off inresponse to sensor data provided by optional sensor subsystem 218 (suchas when a signal is greater than or less than a user-specified or anenvironmental-regulation-specified threshold value, e.g., a dustconcentration of 20 mg/m³). Note that power subsystem 246 and/orswitching subsystem 250 may be compatible with one or more electricalstandards. For example, the electrical standards may have differentroot-mean-square voltages (such as 120 V and 220 V).

During operation of environmental monitoring device 200, processingsubsystem 210 may execute one or more program modules 238, such as anenvironmental monitoring application. In particular, environmentalmonitoring application may instruct one or more sensor devices 228 tomeasure or acquire sensor data that represents one or more environmentalconditions in an environment that includes environmental monitoringdevice 200. For example, the environmental condition may include:presence of an individual (such as a resident or a potential burglar),opening of a door, an individual getting out of bed, an individualwaking up, an individual crying, an individual tossing and turning inbed, an individual shivering, presence of a chemical compound (such asexhaust, carbon monoxide, radon, smoke, a non-volatile organic compoundand/or a volatile organic compound), presence of an allergen (such asdander or pollen), presence of dust, presence of a fungus, a fire,presence of smoke, flooding, a water leak, a chemical leak, presence ofan insect or rodent (and, more generally, an infestation), discharge ofa firearm, a possible altercation or criminal act (such as domesticviolence), a medical emergency, a change in health condition of anindividual, availability of electrical power (such as whether there is apower failure), a lighting condition (such as whether the lights are onor off), temperature deviating from a predefined target, and/or humiditydeviating from a predefined target. In some embodiments, theenvironmental condition is associated with the operation of a regulatordevice (which may or may not be a legacy electronic device). Theregulator device (and, more generally, one of optional electronicdevices 114 in FIG. 1) may include: a smoke detector, a thermostat, acarbon-monoxide detector, an appliance, a pet or animal feeder, a plantor animal watering device, a clock, a security alarm, a humidifier, anair filter, a switch, a light, etc. Note that the monitoring of thesensor data may be continuous, periodic (such as after a time intervalhas elapsed) or as needed (such as event-driven monitoring).

Alternatively or additionally, instead of measuring the sensor datausing optional sensor subsystem 218 or in conjunction with the measuredsensor data from optional sensor subsystem 218, environmental monitoringdevice 200 may receive the sensor data from another electronic device(such as one of the other electronic devices in FIG. 1) that includesone or more sensor devices that are similar to sensor devices 228. Inparticular, the sensor data may be received from the other electronicdevice using networking subsystem 214.

The measured and/or the received sensor data may be communicated toprocessing subsystem 210. Then, the environmental monitoring applicationmay optionally analyze the sensor data, e.g., calculating a discrete ora Fourier transform, determining a histogram, performing filtering orsignal processing, performing data compression, calibrating one or moreof sensor devices 228, managing power consumption of environmentalmonitoring device 200, identifying one or more of sensor devices 228that are not working or which are outputting erroneous sensor data,applying another transformation, calculating statistics (such as momentsof a distribution), performing supervised learning (such as Bayesiananalysis), performing noise reduction, normalizing the sensor data,converting units, etc. (Alternatively or additionally, the sensor dataor a document summarizing the sensor data may be communicated to anotherelectronic device using networking subsystem 214 and the analysis may beperformed remotely, e.g. by archive device 116 in FIGS. 1 and 4.) Forexample, the analysis may determine whether an environmental conditionis present in the environment. In some embodiments, this analysis isbased on information, such as sensor data and/or environmentalconditions, received from other environmental monitoring devices. Thismay allow calibration settings, such as environment-specific thresholdvalues, to be determined for the environment and/or environmentalmonitoring device 200. (Alternatively or additionally, the calibrationsettings may be manually set by a user or by software that implements acalibration technique.) In addition, the analysis may be based oninformation from external data sources, such as datasets of weather andenvironmental phenomena, e.g., tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes,tsunamis, weather forecasts, etc.

Then, the environmental monitoring application may provide feedback to auser of environmental monitoring device 200, data-sharing electronicdevice 118 (FIG. 1) and/or directly to one of optional electronicdevices 114 in FIG. 1 (if this electronic device is able to communicatewith environmental monitoring device 200 via networking subsystem 214).In particular, the environmental monitoring application may instructfeedback subsystem 232 to provide sensory information, such as; a textor graphical message, a graph, a report, a chart, a spectrum, a videodisplayed on display 234, a sound or audio message (such as an alert)output by optional speakers 240 and/or an illumination pattern output byoptional light sources 242. For example, the sensory information mayinclude: a range of values, numerical measurements, shades of gray (orgrayscale), colors, chemical formulas, images, illumination patterns,textures, patterns (which may correspond to one or more environmentalconditions), tessellations with gradients of larger or smaller elementsizes, and/or tessellations of increasing or decreasing element sizes(such as tessellation that are adjusted to be larger or smaller as agiven environmental condition increases or decreases). Thus, in someembodiments the sensory information includes a change in the color ofenvironmental monitoring device 200. Alternatively or additionally, thefeedback may include a change in the illumination pattern provided byoptional light sources 242. In some embodiments, the feedback iscommunicated using networking subsystem 214 and presented to the user(or other individuals) on another electronic device, such asdata-sharing electronic device 118 (FIG. 1) or a different electronicdevice (such as the user's cellular telephone, tablet computer orcomputer) that is used for remote visualization of: the sensor data, theanalyzed sensor data, the environmental condition and/or the feedback.

For example, in response to an environmental condition or a threat,environmental monitoring device 200 may output an alert, which mayinclude audible sound (or feedback) in the environment and/orinformation that is wirelessly communicated to one or more electronicdevices (such as data-sharing electronic device 118 in FIG. 1). Theremay be different types of alerts (such as different warning sounds,lights, messages, etc.) for different environmental conditions.Additionally, environmental monitoring device 200 may output or providemore than one alert at the same time.

In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring application mayprovide, via networking subsystem 214, the feedback to one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1) and/or other electronicdevices (such as computers or servers associated with or operated onbehalf of component suppliers, retailers, insurance companies, securitypersonnel, emergency service personnel, maintenance organizations,shipping companies, landlords or property owners, a corporate-complianceorganization, inspectors, businesses, government agencies, etc.). Forexample, the environmental monitoring application may utilize a ShortMessage Service, email, a social network and/or a messaging service witha restricted number of characters per message. Alternatively oradditionally, the feedback may be posted to a web page or website (and,more generally, a location on a network), and one or more recipients maybe notified via networking subsystem 214, e.g., a link to the locationmay be provided to the recipients.

In turn, an electronic device (such as data-sharing electronic device118 in FIG. 1) may, via networking subsystem 214, modify settings ofenvironmental monitoring device 200 (such as alarm settings, userpreferences, etc.) that change how the feedback is provided locally(e.g., using optional speakers 240) and/or remotely (e.g., usingnetworking subsystem 214), and which more generally change one or morefunctions of environmental monitoring device 200. For example, a user ofdata-sharing electronic device 118 in FIG. 1 may access a web pageassociated with a provider of environmental monitoring device 200 tomodify one or more settings, such as to disable the providing of alertsor feedback.

When the providing of the alert is disabled, processing subsystem 210may continue to assess a potentially threatening environmental condition(such as the possible presence of smoke or carbon monoxide) based onsubsequent sensor data and, if the threat is increasing (such as if theconcentration of carbon monoxide is increasing or has become dangerous),may reactivate the providing of the alert. Alternatively, after a timeinterval (such as 5, 10, 15 or 30 minutes), the modified alert settingmay automatically revert to the original alert setting, so thatenvironmental monitoring device 200 can provide alerts again. In someembodiments, a user subsequently changes the modified alert setting backto the original alert setting or resets the alert setting to default.Thus, environmental monitoring device 200 may continue to assess theimpact of one or more environmental factors (and, more generally, theenvironmental condition) on the safety of the external environment,while also providing a user operational control over alerts. Inaddition, environmental monitoring device 200 may provide fail safesboth in how alerts are disabled and by reactivating alerts in case thethreat is increasing.

Note that the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data may be stored,at least temporarily, in a data structure in memory subsystem 212. Thisis shown in FIG. 3, which presents a data structure 300. In particular,data structure 300 may include entries 308 with: sensor data 310,timestamps 312, locations 314, optional analyzed sensor data 316, and/orenvironmental conditions 318. Note that locations 314 (or locationinformation) may specify locations were the sensor data was acquired ormeasured. For example, the location information may be measured using asensor device in environmental monitoring device 200 in FIG. 2 (such asa location monitor) and/or the location information may be received fromanother electronic device that is proximate to environmental monitoringdevice 200 in FIG. 2 (such as an individual's cellular telephone that iswithin 1-10 m). Thus, the location may be determined via GPS and/or acellular-telephone network (e.g., triangulation or trilateration).

Referring back to FIG. 2, in some embodiments processing subsystem 210performs a remedial action in response to an alert or an alarm (i.e.,based on one or more environmental conditions). This remedial action mayinclude communicating with a regulator device to correct theenvironmental condition(s). For example, via networking subsystem 214,processing subsystem 210 may instruct the regulator device to: ventilatethe area, activate a humidifier, power on or power off a regulatordevice, initiate the operation of a mode on a regulator device, etc. Asnoted previously, and described further below, this same function (and,more generally, the remedial action) may be performed withoutcommunicating with the regulator device by changing a state of switch250 in switching mechanism 250. Alternatively, as described furtherbelow, processing subsystem 210 may provide a maintenance notification(such as a notification to change an air filter). Furthermore, the alertmay indicate a remedial action, such as positive or negative changesthat can restore the environmental condition to a safe value. Thus, thealert may indicate that a user should turn on the ventilation or wear asafety mask when painting or vacuuming, and/or may encourage the user tostop applying a chemical product (such as paint) or to slow down therate of application.

In some embodiments, the one or more program modules 238 include anenvironmentally gated switching program. If the sensor data from the oneor more sensor devices 228 indicate the presence of one or moreenvironmental conditions, processing subsystem 210 executing theenvironmentally gated switching program may provide an instruction or acontrol signal to switching mechanism 250 to change a state of switch252, thereby selectively electrically coupling or decouplingelectrical-connection nodes in switch 252. This may selectivelyelectrically couple electronic devices to each other or to one or morepower sources (such as one of power sources 248 and/or an external powersource, e.g., a wall outlet). In this way, environmental monitoringdevice 200 may perform remedial action in response to the presence ofone or more environmental conditions by selectively electricallycoupling the regulator device to a power source. Thus, this capabilitymay allow environmental monitoring device 200 to respond to and/ormodify the one or more environmental conditions.

In some embodiments, the selective electrical coupling is based onadditional parameters, such as one or more preferences of an individual,which may be stored in memory subsystem 212 and/or which may be receivedfrom the individual using networking subsystem 214. Alternatively oradditionally, the selective electrical coupling may be based on acurrent or predicted location (and arrival time) of an individual. Thismay allow environmental monitoring device 200 to provide geo-fencingservices in which the selective electrical coupling occurs when theindividual is within or outside of a particular region. Thus, switch 252in switching mechanism 250 may selectively electrically couple anelectronic device from a power source when the individual is about toarrive at their home or when they wake up and go into the kitchen.

In order to allow a user local control over operation of switchingmechanism 250 in spite of the one or more environmental conditions,environmental monitoring device 200 may include an override mechanism,such as optional switch 244 (or a button) in feedback subsystem 232. Ifthe user activates or changes a position of the button or the switch onenvironmental monitoring device 200, this may specify the state ofswitch 252 (and, thus, may supersede the instruction of the controlsignal provided by the processing subsystem 210 based on the one or moreenvironmental conditions).

In some embodiments, the one or more program modules 238 include adata-logging application. In conjunction with archive device 116 (FIGS.1 and 4), the data-logging application may maintain a secure, certifiedhistorical record or log for the environment and/or a physical object inthe environment (such as a ‘homefax’ record for an apartment or abuilding). Note that the physical object may include: a portion of abuilding (e.g., an apartment, a hotel room, an office suite, a storageunit, etc.), the building, a container (such as a box, a package or ashipping container), a vehicle (such as a car or truck), a liquid,and/or a train car. Notably, optional sensor subsystem 218 may securelycommunicate the sensor data to processing subsystem 210. Using optionalsecure channel 220, a digital signature for the sensor data may begenerated, e.g., using a secure hash function and/or an encryption keythat are associated with environmental monitoring device 200 and/oroptional secure channel 220. For example, the digital signature may begenerated using a secure hash of a time stamp, a random number (or apseudorandom number, both of which are henceforth referred to as a‘random number’), and/or an identifier of environmental monitoringdevice 200. Then, the data-logging application may instruct networkingsubsystem 214 to communicate a certified data package (with the sensordata or analyzed sensor data, the digital signature, locationinformation and/or an associated time stamp) to archive device 116(FIG. 1) for inclusion in the historical record or log for theenvironment.

Moreover, the one or more program modules 238 may include a data-sharingapplication. This data-sharing application may enable a designated orauthorized recipient to access protected sensor data that is stored inarchive device 116 (FIG. 1). In particular, when executed by processingsubsystem 210, the data-sharing application may instruct optional sensorsubsystem 218 to measure or collect sensor data that represents theenvironmental condition. Then, the data-sharing application may protectthe sensor data and/or analyzed sensor data. For example, the sensordata and/or the analyzed sensor data may be encrypted using anencryption key by processing subsystem 210 and/or optional securechannel 220. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor data and/or theanalyzed sensor data may be protected using a secure hash function inconjunction with an identifier of environmental monitoring device 200and/or a random (or pseudorandom) number generated by processingsubsystem 210. Next, data-sharing application may instruct networkingsubsystem 214 to provide the protected sensor data and/or the analyzedsensor data to archive device 116 (FIG. 1).

Subsequently, when environmental monitoring device 200 receives, vianetworking subsystem 214, a request for the sensor data fromdata-sharing electronic device 118 (FIG. 1), the data-sharingapplication may access a predefined authorization preference of a userof environmental monitoring device 200 that is stored in memorysubsystem 212. If the predefined authorization preference of the userauthorizes the recipient associated with the request, the data-sharingapplication may provide, via networking subsystem 214, authorizationinformation to archive device 116 (FIG. 1) to release the sensor data todata-sharing electronic device 118 (FIG. 1). Alternatively, thedata-sharing application may instruct feedback subsystem 232 to requestfeedback about the request from the user. This user feedback may bereceived via optional user-interface subsystem 216. If the user feedbackapproves the request, the data-sharing application may provide, vianetworking subsystem 214, authorization information to archive device116 (FIG. 1) to release the sensor data to data-sharing electronicdevice 118 (FIG. 1). (Thus, the user of environmental monitoring device200 may control when other parties are allowed to access the sensordata.) Note that the data-sharing application may also provide, vianetworking subsystem 214, protection information specifying how tounprotect the sensor data to archive device 116 (FIG. 1) and/or todata-sharing electronic device 118 (FIG. 1). For example, thedata-sharing application may provide the encryption key and/or mayindicate the secure hash function, the random (or pseudorandom) numberand/or the identifier. In some embodiments, this protection informationis received from the user of environmental monitoring device 200, e.g.,via networking interface 214 and/or optional user-interface subsystem216.

In some embodiments, the one or more program modules 238 include amaintenance application. This maintenance application may provide amaintenance notification related to the operation of environmentalmonitoring device 200, one of the other electronic devices in FIG. 1and/or one or more environmental conditions in the environment. Forexample, the maintenance application may provide an instruction to:perform maintenance, replace a battery (and, more generally, one ofpower sources 248), replace one of the one or more sensor devices 228,order another replacement component (such as a filter) and/or to takeout the garbage. When providing the maintenance notification, themaintenance application may instruct feedback subsystem 232 to presentthe maintenance notification to the user or maintenance personnel,and/or may instruct networking subsystem 214 to communicate themaintenance notification to another electronic device, such as theuser's cellular telephone. In some embodiments, maintenance applicationsuggests or recommends a specific provider or product to address orperform a remedial action in response to a maintenance notification.Alternatively, maintenance application may direct a user to a document(such as a web page or website) that includes information related to amaintenance notification.

Within environmental monitoring device 200, processing subsystem 210,memory subsystem 212, networking subsystem 214, optional user-interfacesubsystem 216, optional sensor subsystem 218, feedback subsystem 232,power subsystem 246 and/or switching subsystem 250 may be coupled usingone or more interconnects, such as bus 230. These interconnects mayinclude an electrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connection thatthe subsystems can use to communicate commands and data among oneanother. Note that different embodiments can include a different numberor configuration of electrical, optical, and/or electro-opticalconnections among the subsystems. In some embodiments, environmentalmonitoring device 200 can detect tampering with secure components (suchas optional secure channel 220 and/or bus 230) and may destroyencryption/decryption keys or information (such as a stored sensor dataor authentication information) if tampering is detected.

Environmental monitoring device 200 can be (or can be included in) anelectronic device with at least one network interface. For example,environmental monitoring device 200 can be (or can be included in): asensor (such as a smart sensor), a tablet computer, a smartphone, acellular telephone, an appliance, a regulator device, aconsumer-electronic device (such as a baby monitor), a portablecomputing device, test equipment, a digital signal processor, acontroller, a personal digital assistant, a laser printer (or otheroffice equipment such as a photocopier), a personal organizer, a toy, aset-top box, a computing device (such as a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a server, and/or a subnotebook/netbook), a light (such as anightlight), an alarm, a smoke detector, a carbon-monoxide detector, amonitoring device, and/or another electronic device (such as a switch ora router).

Although specific components are used to describe environmentalmonitoring device 200, in alternative embodiments, different componentsand/or subsystems may be present in environmental monitoring device 200.For example, environmental monitoring device 200 may include one or moreadditional processing subsystems, memory subsystems, networkingsubsystems, user-interface subsystems, sensor subsystems, feedbacksubsystems, power subsystems and/or switching subsystems. Additionally,one or more of the subsystems may not be present in environmentalmonitoring device 200. Moreover, in some embodiments, environmentalmonitoring device 200 may include one or more additional subsystems thatare not shown in FIG. 2. For example, environmental monitoring device200 can include: another or a different type of physiological outputsubsystem that provides sensory information to the user, one or moremotors that rotate one or more color wheels (or color-wheel indicators)with low power consumption (such as a brushed motor, a brushless motor,a piezo-type ratcheting motor, etc.), and/or an alarm subsystem. Notethat a given motor may rotate a color wheel using an open-loop controltechnique or a closed-loop control technique based on an encoder, suchas: an optical encoder, a mechanical encoder, a potentiometer, etc.Furthermore, note that the one or more optional speakers 240 and amicrophone in environmental monitoring device 200 may be used to provideaudio conferencing capability to another electronic device.

Although separate subsystems are shown in FIG. 2, in some embodiments,some or all of a given subsystem or component can be integrated into oneor more of the other subsystems or components in environmentalmonitoring device 200. For example, in some embodiments the one or moreprogram modules 238 are included in operating system 236. In someembodiments, a component in a given subsystem is included in a differentsubsystem, e.g., optional switch 244 may be included in optionaluser-interface subsystem 216.

Moreover, the circuits and components in environmental monitoring device200 may be implemented using any combination of analog and/or digitalcircuitry, including: bipolar, PMOS and/or NMOS gates or transistors.Furthermore, signals in these embodiments may include digital signalsthat have approximately discrete values and/or analog signals that havecontinuous values. Additionally, components and circuits may besingle-ended or differential, and power supplies may be unipolar orbipolar.

An integrated circuit may implement some or all of the functionality ofnetworking subsystem 214 (such as a radio) and, more generally, some orall of the functionality of environmental monitoring device 200.Moreover, the integrated circuit may include hardware and/or softwaremechanisms that are used for transmitting wireless signals fromenvironmental monitoring device 200 to, and receiving signals atenvironmental monitoring device 200 from other electronic devices. Asidefrom the mechanisms herein described, radios are generally known in theart and hence are not described in detail. In general, networkingsubsystem 214 and/or the integrated circuit can include any number ofradios. Note that the radios in multiple-radio embodiments function in asimilar way to the radios described in single-radio embodiments.

In some embodiments, networking subsystem 214 and/or the integratedcircuit include a configuration mechanism (such as one or more hardwareand/or software mechanisms) that configures the radio(s) to transmitand/or receive on a given communication channel (e.g., a given carrierfrequency). For example, in some embodiments, the configurationmechanism can be used to switch the radio from monitoring and/ortransmitting on a given communication channel to monitoring and/ortransmitting on a different communication channel. (Note that‘monitoring’ as used herein comprises receiving signals from otherelectronic devices and possibly performing one or more processingoperations on the received signals, e.g., determining if the receivedsignal comprises an advertising frame, a petition, a beacon, etc.)

While a communication protocol compatible with ZigBee® was used as anillustrative example, the described embodiments of environmentalmonitoring device 200 may use a variety of network or communicationinterfaces. Furthermore while some of the operations in the precedingembodiments were implemented in hardware or software, in general theoperations in the preceding embodiments can be implemented in a widevariety of configurations and architectures. Therefore, some or all ofthe operations in the preceding embodiments may be performed inhardware, in software or both. For example, at least some of theoperations performed by processing subsystem 210 may be performed byoptional sensor subsystem 218.

Furthermore, while the preceding discussion focused on the hardware,software and functionality in environmental monitoring device 200,archive device 116 (FIG. 1) and/or optional computer 120 (FIG. 1) mayhave the same or similar hardware (processors, memory, networkinginterfaces, etc.) and/or software to support the operations performed bythese electronic devices or systems. This is shown in FIG. 4, whichpresents a block diagram illustrating electronic device 400, such asarchive device 116 (FIG. 1). In particular, electronic device 400includes processing subsystem 410, memory subsystem 412 and/or anetworking subsystem 414. Processing subsystem 410 includes one or moredevices configured to perform computational operations. For example,processing subsystem 410 can include one or more microprocessors,application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), microcontrollers,programmable-logic devices, and/or one or more digital signal processors(DSPs).

Memory subsystem 412 includes one or more devices for storing dataand/or instructions for processing subsystem 410 and/or networkingsubsystem 414. For example, memory subsystem 412 can include dynamicrandom access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), and/orother types of memory. In some embodiments, instructions for processingsubsystem 410 in memory subsystem 412 include: one or more programmodules 424 or sets of instructions (such as an archiving application,an analysis application, a data-sharing application and/or anotification application), which may be executed in an operatingenvironment (such as operating system 422) by processing subsystem 410.Note that the one or more computer programs may constitute acomputer-program mechanism or a program module. Moreover, instructionsin the various modules in memory subsystem 412 may be implemented in: ahigh-level procedural language, an object-oriented programming language,and/or in an assembly or machine language. Furthermore, the programminglanguage may be compiled or interpreted, e.g., configurable orconfigured (which may be used interchangeably in this discussion), to beexecuted by processing subsystem 410.

In addition, memory subsystem 412 can include mechanisms for controllingaccess to the memory. In some embodiments, memory subsystem 412 includesa memory hierarchy that comprises one or more caches coupled to a memoryin electronic device 400. In some of these embodiments, one or more ofthe caches is located in processing subsystem 410.

In some embodiments, memory subsystem 412 is coupled to one or morehigh-capacity mass-storage devices (not shown). For example, memorysubsystem 412 can be coupled to a magnetic or optical drive, asolid-state drive, or another type of mass-storage device. In theseembodiments, memory subsystem 412 can be used by electronic device 400as fast-access storage for often-used data, while the mass-storagedevice is used to store less frequently used data. Note that memorysubsystem 412 may include multiple storage devices at one or morelocations. Thus, data storage by memory subsystem 412 may bedistributed, such as a cloud-based data-storage system.

Networking subsystem 414 includes one or more devices configured tocouple to and communicate on a wired, optical and/or wireless network(i.e., to perform network operations), including an interface circuit416 and one or more optional antennas 418. For example, networkingsubsystem 414 can include: a ZigBee® networking subsystem, a Bluetooth™networking system (which can include Bluetooth™ Low Energy, BLE orBluetooth™ LE), a cellular networking system (e.g., a 3G/4G network suchas UMTS, LTE, etc.), a USB networking system, a networking system basedon the standards described in IEEE 802.11 (e.g., a Wi-Fi® networkingsystem), an Ethernet networking system and/or another communicationsystem.

Moreover, networking subsystem 414 includes processors, controllers,radios/antennas, sockets/plugs, and/or other devices used for couplingto, communicating on, and handling data and events for each supportednetworking or communication system. Note that mechanisms used forcoupling to, communicating on, and handling data and events on thenetwork for each network system are sometimes collectively referred toas a ‘network interface’ for the network system.

During operation of electronic device 400, processing subsystem 410 mayexecute one or more program modules 424, such as an archivingapplication. This archiving application may receive, via networkinginterface 414, data packets from one or more of environmental monitoringdevices 110 (FIG. 1). These data packets may include sensor data and/oranalyzed sensor data. In some embodiments, processing subsystem 410executes an analysis application, which analyzes the received sensordata. For example, the received sensor data may be: time stamped fortime-series processing, filtered, compressed, etc. In some additionalembodiments, processing subsystem 410 executes an analysis application,which can compare received sensor data analysis from one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1). As noted previously, theanalysis may be based on information from external sources, such asdatasets of weather and environmental phenomena. Consequently, in theseembodiments networking interface 414 may be instructed by processingsubsystem 410 to access the information in the external sources.

Then, archiving application may store the sensor data and/or theanalyzed sensor data in a data structure in memory subsystem 412. Thisis shown in FIG. 5, which presents a block diagram illustrating datastructure 500. In particular, data structure 500 may include entries 508with: identifiers 510 of environmental monitoring devices, sensor data512, timestamps 514, locations 516, optional analyzed sensor data 518,environmental conditions 520 and/or optional protection information 522.

Referring back to FIG. 4, in some embodiments the received data packetsinclude protected information. For example, the sensor data and/or theanalyzed sensor data may be encrypted using an encryption key associatedwith one of environmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1) and/or asecure channel in the one of environmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG.1). Alternatively or additionally, there may be a digital signatureassociated with the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data, and/orthe sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data may be protected using asecure hash function. In these embodiments, optional protectioninformation 522 (FIG. 5) may include information that can confirm thesource(s) of the received data packets (such as one or more ofenvironmental monitoring devices 110 in FIG. 1) and/or can be used tounprotect the sensor data and/or the analyzed sensor data. Note thatoptional protection information 522 (FIG. 5) may be received, vianetworking interface 414, from one of environmental monitoring devices110 (FIG. 1). This protection information may include the encryption keyor an encryption key associated with the encryption key (which can beused to confirm the digital signature and/or decrypt encryptedinformation). Networking device 414 can utilize: encrypted tunneling inat least one networking interface, a network switch and/or networkrouter between one of environmental monitoring devices 110 and archivedevice 116 in FIG. 1. Similarly, optional protection information 522(FIG. 5) may specify the secure hash function, may include theidentifier for one of environmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1)and/or may include the random (or pseudorandom) number (which also canbe used to unprotect information). Note that protection information 522may include fault tolerance information (such as parity bits or hashes)to aid in the detection of tampered data, corrupted data, and/orerroneous sensor readings in the event of a sensor failure ormiscalibration.

In an exemplary embodiment, a public-private encryption-key technique isused. In particular, a certified, secure data package may be signed byone of environmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1) using a publicencryption key of archive device 116 (FIG. 1), and the digital signaturemay be verified and the certified, secure data package may be decryptedusing the private encryption key of archive device 116 (FIG. 1).However, in other embodiments a symmetric encryption technique is used.Thus, the same encryption key may be used to sign, encrypt and/ordecrypt the certified, secure data package.

In some embodiments, the one or more program modules 424 includes adata-sharing application. This data-sharing application may receive, vianetworking subsystem 414, authorization information for a recipient ofsensor data and/or analyzed sensor data. In response to theauthorization information, the data-sharing application may provide, vianetworking subsystem 414, the requested sensor data and/or analyzedsensor data to the recipient. Alternatively, the data-sharingapplication may provide, via networking subsystem 414, a pointer to alocation in memory subsystem 412 where the recipient can access therequested sensor data and/or analyzed sensor data. Note that thedata-sharing application may also optionally provide the optionalprotection information 522 (FIG. 5) to the recipient (which may allowthe recipient to confirm the source(s) and/or to unprotect protectedinformation).

Additionally, in some embodiments the one or more program modules 424includes a notification application. This notification application mayreceive, via networking subsystem 414, information, such as feedbackassociated with one or more environmental conditions in environment 112(FIG. 1) and/or a notification (such as a maintenance notification). Inresponse, the notification application may communicate, via networkingsubsystem 414, the information and/or one or more reports based on theinformation (such as daily, weekly or monthly summaries of analyzedsensor data, which may be included in documents or files) to: one ormore of environmental monitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1), data-sharingelectronic device 118 (FIG. 1) and/or other electronic devices (such ascomputers or servers associated with or operated on behalf of: componentsuppliers, retailers, insurance companies, security personnel, emergencyservice personnel, maintenance organizations, shipping companies,landlords or property owners, a corporate-compliance organization,inspectors, businesses, government agencies, etc.). For example, thecommunication of the information may utilize a Short Message Service,email, a social network and/or a message service with a restrictednumber of characters per message. In some embodiments, a link topurchase a product or service in response to an event can be included inthe notification, e.g., a low battery notification can provide a link toan online ordering form and a prepaid account at a retailer, so that newbatteries can be ordered from the retailer directly via the linkincluded in the notification. Similarly, a service can be arrangedand/or scheduled, e.g., cleaning of a pool filter can be arranged andscheduled via a link included in a notification. Alternatively, theinformation may be posted to a web page or website (and, more generally,a location on a network), and one or more recipients may be notified vianetworking subsystem 414, e.g., a link to the location may be providedto the recipients.

When the notification includes a maintenance notification, the archivingapplication may store information specifying the maintenancenotification in a historical record or log for the environment. Inaddition, the archiving application may store any subsequent remedialaction (such as a repair or service performed on an electronic device inthe environment) in a historical record or log for the environment inmemory subsystem 412.

Within electronic device 400, processing subsystem 410, memory subsystem412, and/or networking subsystem 414 may be coupled using one or moreinterconnects, such as bus 420. These interconnects may include anelectrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connection that thesubsystems can use to communicate commands and data among one another.Note that different embodiments can include a different number orconfiguration of electrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connectionsamong the subsystems.

Electronic device 400 can be (or can be included in) any electronicdevice with at least one network interface. For example, electronicdevice 400 can be (or can be included in): a sensor (such as a smartsensor), a tablet computer, a smartphone, a cellular telephone, anappliance, a regulator device, a consumer-electronic device, a portablecomputing device, test equipment, a digital signal processor, acontroller, a personal digital assistant, a facsimile machine, a laserprinter (or other office equipment such as a photocopier), a personalorganizer, a toy, a set-top box, a computing device (such as a laptopcomputer, a desktop computer, a server, and/or a subnotebook/netbook),an alarm, a light (such as a nightlight), a monitoring device, and/oranother electronic device.

Although specific components are used to describe electronic device 400,in alternative embodiments, different components and/or subsystems maybe present in electronic device 400. For example, electronic device 400may include one or more additional processing subsystems, memorysubsystems, and/or networking subsystems. Additionally, one or more ofthe subsystems may not be present in electronic device 400. Moreover, insome embodiments, electronic device 400 may include one or moreadditional subsystems that are not shown in FIG. 4, such as a powersupply and/or a user-interface subsystem (which a user may use to modifysettings of one or more of environmental monitoring devices 110 in FIG.1, such as settings for alarms or notifications). Although separatesubsystems are shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, some or all of agiven subsystem or component can be integrated into one or more of theother subsystems or components in electronic device 400. For example, insome embodiments the one or more program modules 424 are included inoperating system 422.

Moreover, the circuits and components in electronic device 400 may beimplemented using any combination of analog and/or digital circuitry,including: bipolar, PMOS and/or NMOS gates or transistors. Furthermore,signals in these embodiments may include digital signals that haveapproximately discrete values and/or analog signals that have continuousvalues. Additionally, components and circuits may be single-ended ordifferential, and power supplies may be unipolar or bipolar.

Note that an integrated circuit may implement some or all of thefunctionality of electronic device 400.

While some of the operations in the preceding embodiments wereimplemented in hardware or software, in general the operations in thepreceding embodiments can be implemented in a wide variety ofconfigurations and architectures. Therefore, some or all of theoperations in the preceding embodiments may be performed in hardware, insoftware or both.

An exemplary embodiment of the environmental monitoring device is shownin FIGS. 6-8, which respectively show front, and side views ofenvironmental monitoring device 600, which may be one of environmentalmonitoring devices 110 (FIG. 1). Alternatively, the environmentalmonitoring device may include a display. This shown in FIGS. 9 and 10,which respectively show front and side views of environmental monitoringdevice 900, which may be one of environmental monitoring devices 110(FIG. 1).

Embodiments of the environmental monitoring device may include a gratingin the chassis or housing (such as a case or a shell on the outside ofthe environmental monitoring device) that prevents large particles, soiland mud from damaging or otherwise obscuring inputs to one or moresensor devices in the environmental monitoring device. Alternatively oradditionally, the chassis or housing may facilitate airflow or fluidflow through vents or openings to one or more sensor devices in theenvironmental monitoring device. In addition, the environmentalmonitoring device may include a forced-fluid driver (such as a fan) tofacilitate airflow or fluid-flow through the vents. However, in otherembodiments airflow or fluid flow is facilitated using convection (e.g.,by heating the air or the fluid), or the airflow or fluid flow may occurpassively.

A wide variety of materials may be used to fabricate the environmentalmonitoring device (and, in particular, the housing or chassis of theenvironmental monitoring device), including: organic materials (such asplastic, polyethylene, wood, etc.), inorganic materials (such as ametal), glass, concrete, rubber, a semiconductor, a fabric, etc.Moreover, the housing or chassis may be transparent or opaque.

We now further describe operation of the environmental monitoring deviceand, in particular, functionality of the environmental monitoring devicein various embodiments. FIG. 11 presents a flow diagram illustrating amethod 1100 for selectively electrically coupling a firstelectrical-connection node and a second electrical-connection node,which may be performed by the environmental monitoring device. Duringoperation, the environmental monitoring device obtains one or moremeasurements of an environmental condition (operation 1110) in anexternal environment that includes the environmental monitoring device.For example, a sensor (or a sensor mechanism) in the environmentalmonitoring device may optionally provide sensor data based on the one ormore measurements of the environmental condition and/or the sensor datamay be optionally received from an electronic device that is separatefrom the environmental monitoring device (such as another environmentalmonitoring device and/or a legacy electronic device in the externalenvironment, which is sometimes referred to as a ‘fourth electronicdevice’). Note that the sensor may include: a temperature sensor, ahumidity sensor, an acoustic sensor, a fire-detection sensor, aload-monitoring sensor, and/or a motion sensor:

Then, a processor (and, more generally, a control mechanism, which mayinclude an integrated circuit or control logic) in the environmentalmonitoring device, provides a control signal to a switch (operation1112) or a switching mechanism in the environmental monitoring device toselectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node andthe second electrical-connection node in the environmental monitoringdevice based on the one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition. This may selectively electrically couple an electronic device(which is electrically coupled to the first electrical-connection node)to a second electronic device (which is electrically coupled to thesecond electrical-connection node). Note that the electronic deviceand/or the second electronic device may be one of the electronic devicesin FIG. 1, such as a legacy electronic device, a regulator device anappliance, a light source (such as a lamp or a light bulb), etc. Thus,method 1100 may allow the environmental monitoring device to turn theelectronic device and/or the second electronic device on or off (and,more generally, to modify the function of the electronic device and/orthe second electronic device) without or excluding interaction (such ascommunication and/or electrical coupling of instructions) betweenenvironmental monitoring devices 110 and the electronic device and/orthe second electronic device.

For example, the sensor may include an acoustic sensor and theenvironmental condition may include a sound in the external environment.In this example, the processor may selectively electrically decouple thefirst electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connectionnode when the sound exceeds a threshold value (such as 30-40 dB), andmay selectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection nodeand the second electrical-connection node when the sound is less thanthe threshold value. Thus, the processor may change the control signalbased on the presence or absence of the sound, such as: during atelephone call, when a door is opened or closed (such as when someonecomes into or leaves a room), or when an alarm occurs (such as when afire alarm or a carbon-monoxide detector is activated). Alternatively oradditionally, the sensor may include a fire-detection sensor (or acarbon-monoxide detector) and the environmental condition may includepresence of fire (or carbon monoxide). In this example, the processormay selectively electrically decouple the first electrical-connectionnode from the second electrical-connection node when the presence offire (or carbon monoxide) is detected.

In another example, the sensor may include a load-monitoring sensor andthe environmental condition may include an electrical characteristicassociated with the electronic device and/or the second electronicdevice. Then, the processor may selectively electrically decouple thefirst electrical-connection node from the second electrical-connectionnode when the electrical characteristic indicates a standby operatingmode for the electronic device and/or the second electronic device. Thismay allow the environmental monitoring device to reduce or eliminateso-called ‘vampire,’‘phantom’ or ‘parasitic’ power consumption or waste.Alternatively or additionally, the selective electrical decoupling mayoccur when the electrical characteristic indicates a safety concern,such as: a fire hazard, a short circuit, a risk of electric shock orelectrocution, etc.

In general, the switch may be an electronic (such as an electricallyoperated switch or relay) or an electromechanical component that caninterrupt a circuit and/or divert current from the firstelectrical-connector node to the second electrical-connector node. Forexample, the switch may be single pole or multiple pole, and may (or maynot) be make before break. Thus, the switch may selectively switchbetween a closed state and an open state.

In some embodiments, the switch regulates the electrical coupling. Forexample, the switch may provide voltage-limited or current-limitedcoupling between the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node. This may be accomplished using a voltageclamp (such as a diode) in parallel with a load (such as the electronicdevice or the second electronic device) or with a circuit that includescombination of active and passive elements (such as diodes, transistors,etc.).

In some embodiments, the selective electrical coupling includes animpedance value between the impedance values when the electricalcoupling corresponds to the open state of the switch and when theelectrical coupling corresponds to the closed state of the switch. Forexample, the impedance of the switch may be electronically selected bythe control signal to have values between a maximum (open state) and aminimum (closed state) impedance of the switch. This may allow theswitch to function as a dimmer switch. Consequently, the control signalmay correspond to a grey-scale value associated with the impedancevalue.

At least one of the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node may include: a light socket, a rotatableconnector configured to electrically couple to a light socket, an ACpower plug, an AC power socket, a multi-wire electrical terminal, a DCpower plug, a DC power socket, and/or a USB-compatible connector. Thus,the first electrical-connection node and/or the secondelectrical-connection node may include male connectors, femaleconnectors and/or wires. For example, the first electrical-connectionnode may include a multi-wire electrical terminal, and the secondelectrical-connection node may include: a light socket, a rotatableconnector configured to electrically couple to a light socket, an ACpower plug, an AC power socket, a multi-wire electrical terminal, a DCpower plug, a DC power socket, and/or a USB-compatible connector. Notethat the environmental monitoring device may be used in conjunction witha variety of electrical standards. Thus, the first electrical-connectionnode may correspond to a first electrical standard having a firstroot-mean-square voltage (such as 230 V and a fundamental frequency of50 Hz, which is used in the European Union) and the secondelectrical-connection node may correspond to a second electricalstandard having a second root-mean-square voltage (such as 120 V and afundamental frequency of 60 Hz, which is used in North America).Consequently, the environmental monitoring device may include atransformer. In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring deviceaccepts three-phase electric power and outputs electrical poweraccording to one or more electrical standards.

While the environmental monitoring device may function independently orwithout direct communication with the other electronic devices in FIG.1, in other embodiments the environmental monitoring device works inconjunction with one or more electronic devices that are remotelylocated or separate from the environmental monitoring device. Forexample, the environmental monitoring device may include: an antenna,and an interface circuit that communicates with a third electronicdevice (such as a cellular telephone of the user) that is separate fromthe environmental monitoring device. This communication may include anidentifier of the third electronic device, and the control mechanism mayselectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node andthe second electrical-connection node based on the identifier. Forexample, the identifier may include a media access control (MAC) addressof the user's cellular telephone, the user's cellular-telephone numberor information specifying the user's account (such as an account number)with a provider of the environmental monitoring device. Then, theselective electrical coupling may be based on the identifier. Thus, theswitch may be actuated when the user is in proximity to theenvironmental monitoring device (such as when the user is within 1-10 m)or is in the external environment (such as, when the environmentalmonitoring device infers that the user arrived at home, the lights maybe turned on).

More generally, the identifier may allow the environmental monitoringdevice to personalize the environmental condition based on who is in oris expected to be in the external environment. To do so, the processorin the environmental monitoring device may access or obtain a predefinedpreference of an individual associated with the identifier (such as theuser or someone other than the user). In particular, the processor mayaccess one or more locally or remotely stored preferences of theindividual, such as those stored in the user's account information. Theselective electrical coupling may then be based on the one or morepredefined preferences. For example, the predefined preference mayspecify a threshold value for the environmental condition (such as amaximum temperature of 80 F or a minimum temperature of 65 F, a maximumhumidity of 80% or a minimum humidity of 30%, a maximum or a minimumconcentration of a chemical or an allergen in the external environment,etc.), and the switch may selectively electrically couple the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection nodebased on the threshold value. In this way, a regulator device (such as afan, an air conditioner, a heater, an air filter, a humidifier, etc.)may be selectively activated. Alternatively or additionally, thepredefined preference may be related to a medical condition of the useror an illumination preference (such as desired lighting conditions at aparticular time of day). Note that instead of accessing or obtaining thepredefined preference of the individual, the preference may be includedin the communication (i.e., may be received using the antenna and theinterface circuit), and the selective electrical coupling may be basedon the preference.

While preceding discussion illustrated selective electrical couplingbased on a static or fixed preference, more generally, the preferencemay evolve or change as a function of time or the environmentalcondition, which may allow the environmental monitoring device todynamically respond to or control the environmental condition.

In these ways, the environmental monitoring device may facilitatedynamic switching based on one or more environmental conditions, thepresence (or absence) of the individual and/or one or more preferencesof the individual. Consequently, the environmental monitoring device mayprovide improved ways to monitor and modify the environmental conditionsin the external environment.

FIG. 12 presents a drawing illustrating communication withinenvironmental monitoring device 1210 during method 1100 (FIG. 11).During operation of environmental monitoring device 1210 (such as duringan environmentally gated switching mode of operation), sensor 1212optionally provides sensor data 1214 to processor 1222 based on the oneor more measurements of the environmental condition. Alternatively oradditionally, interface circuit 1216 optionally receives sensor data1220 based on the one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition from electronic device 1218 (such as a legacy electronicdevice or another environmental monitoring device) and provides sensordata 1220 to processor 1222.

Then, processor 1222 provides control signal 1224 to a switch 1226 toselectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node andthe second electrical-connection node in the environmental monitoringdevice based on the one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition.

In some embodiments, interface circuit 1216 optionally receivesidentifier 1230 from electronic device 1228 (such as the user's cellulartelephone). In response, processor 1222 may optionally access or obtainpredefined preference 1236 from memory 1232 based on identifier 1230.For example, processor 1222 may receive predefined preference 1234 inresponse to request 1234. Alternatively, interface circuit 1216 mayoptionally receive preference 1238 from electronic device 1228 (forexample, the user may provide preference 1236 using a user interface inelectronic device 1228), which interface circuit 1216 then provides toprocessor 1222. Consequently, processor 1222 may optionally base controlsignal 1224 on: identifier 1230, predefined preference 1236 and/orpreference 1238.

While the preceding discussion illustrated the environmental monitoringdevice with two electrical-connection nodes, in some embodiments theenvironmental monitoring device includes one or more additionalelectrical-connection nodes. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, whichpresents a block diagram illustrating a switch 1314 (or switchingmechanism) in environmental monitoring device 1300 during method 1100(FIG. 11). During operation, environmental monitoring device 1300 mayinclude electrical-connection nodes 1310, and based on the controlsignal from processor 1312 (which is based on the one or moremeasurements of the environmental condition by sensor 1316), switch 1314may selectively electrically couple electrical-connection node 1310-1,electrical-connection node 1310-2 and/or electrical-connection node1310-3. In some embodiments, the selective electrical coupling ofelectrical-connection nodes 1310-1 and 1310-2 and the selectiveelectrical coupling of electrical-connection nodes 1310-1 and 1310-3 areindependent of each other (e.g., electrical-connection nodes 1310-1 and1310-2 may be selectively electrically coupled whether or notelectrical-connection nodes 1310-1 and 1310-3 are selectivelyelectrically coupled). Alternatively, the selective electrical couplingof electrical-connection nodes 1310-1 and 1310-2 and the selectiveelectrical coupling of electrical-connection nodes 1310-1 and 1310-3 maydepend on each other (such as concurrent or alternating electricalcoupling). Thus, when electrical-connection nodes 1310-1 and 1310-2 areelectrically coupled electrical-connection nodes 1310-1 and 1310-3 maybe electrically decoupled, and when electrical-connection nodes 1310-1and 1310-2 are electrically decoupled electrical-connection nodes 1310-1and 1310-3 may be electrically coupled. For example, the electronicdevices electrically coupled to electrical-connection nodes 1310-2 and1310-3 may have opposite functions, which may allow push-pull regulationof the environmental condition in the external environment.

In some embodiments, the selective electrical coupling is based on orfacilitates charging of the rechargeable battery. This is shown in FIG.14, which presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 1400 forselectively electrically coupling the first electrical-connection nodeand the second electrical-connection node, which may be performed by theenvironmental monitoring device. During operation, the environmentalmonitoring device receives (or obtains) the sensor data based on the oneor more measurements of the environmental condition (operation 1410)from the sensor (or the sensor mechanism) in the environmentalmonitoring device, where the environmental condition is associated withthe charging of the rechargeable battery. For example, the firstelectrical-connection node may be electrically coupled to a powersource, and the second electrical-connection node may be electricallycoupled to the electronic device (or the second electronic device) thatincludes the rechargeable battery. Note that the rechargeable batterymay include one or more electrochemical cells that store energy, suchas: a lithium-ion battery, a nickel-metal-hydride battery, etc.

Then, the processor (or the control mechanism) in the environmentalmonitoring device provides the control signal to the switch (operation1412) or the switching mechanism in the environmental monitoring deviceto selectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection nodeand the second electrical-connection node based on the one or moremeasurements of the environmental condition. Moreover, the processorselects the charging mode of the rechargeable battery based on the oneor more measurements of the environmental condition.

For example, the charging mode may include: a charging profile as afunction of time that increase life of the rechargeable battery (e.g.,by avoiding excess current, using pulsed charging and/or avoidingovercharging, such as by using a delta-V or delta-peak-voltage chargingcircuit), a charging profile as a function of time that reduces acharging time of the rechargeable battery, and/or a charging profile asa function of time that reduces power consumption while charging therechargeable battery. Thus, the environmental condition may include: thecurrent through the rechargeable battery, the voltage across therechargeable battery, the temperature of the rechargeable battery (or athermal signature or a thermal image of the rechargeable battery), aninternal impedance of the rechargeable battery and/or, more generally(as described further below), an electrical characteristic of therechargeable battery. In particular, the environmental condition mayinclude an infrared image of the rechargeable battery, which may allowhot spots or the temperature of the rechargeable battery to bedetermined, which, in turn, may allow intelligent or smart charging ofthe rechargeable battery to increase its life. Alternatively, theenvironmental condition may include the voltage across, the currentthrough and/or the impedance of one or more electrochemical cells in therechargeable battery (e.g., the voltage, current and/or impedance ofindividual electrochemical cells in the rechargeable battery may bedirectly measured or may be indirectly inferred), which may allow therechargeable battery to be charged quickly and safely.

In some embodiments, the sensor includes a load-monitoring sensor andthe environmental condition may include the electrical characteristicassociated with the rechargeable battery, the electronic device and/orthe second electronic device. Then, the processor may selectivelyelectrically decouple the first electrical-connection node from thesecond electrical-connection node when the electrical characteristicindicates the standby operating mode for the electronic device and/orthe second electronic device. Alternatively or additionally, theselective electrical decoupling may occur when the electricalcharacteristic indicates a safety concern (such as a fire hazard, ashort circuit, a risk of electric shock or electrocution, etc.). Notethat the electrical characteristic may include: a current, a voltage, aphase relative to at least a reference signal (such as a power-linesignal or a clock signal), a quality factor, a harmonic of a fundamentalfrequency, a resonance frequency, a time constant, noise, and/or powerconsumption. For example, the electrical characteristic may include aroot-mean-square electrical noise and/or the ratio of energy associatedwith harmonics to the energy at the fundamental frequency (such as aclock frequency) output on a power line or a signal line electricallycoupled to the electronic device and/or the second electronic device.

The electrical characteristic (and, more generally, the one or moremeasurements of the environmental condition) may be used by theprocessor to predict failure of at least a component in the electronicdevice and/or the second electronic device. For example, an increase inthe root-mean-square electrical or acoustic noise, the ratio of energyassociated with harmonics to the energy at the fundamental frequency,and/or the power consumption as a function of time may indicate animpending failure of at least the component. Alternatively, theelectrical characteristic may include the absolute or a relative changein the charging time under certain charging conditions (such as thevoltage, the current, the pulse rise time, the pulse duration, the pulseamplitude, the pulse frequency, etc.), the charging mode, the totalcharge, etc., which may indicate an impending failure of therechargeable battery. (Note that ‘failure’ may be defined as a failureto operate, a safety condition and, more generally, exceeding at leastone specified operating range of a parameter associated with thecomponent.) In some embodiments, the predicted failure is based onsensor data output from a chemical sensor, an optical sensor and/or afire-detection sensor.

Predicting an impending failure may be facilitated by the processor (oran integrated circuit or control logic) in the environmental monitoringdevice determining information associated with the electronic deviceand/or the second electronic device. Note that the information mayinclude: a type of electronic device, a model of electronic device, abrand of electronic device, and/or a unique identifier of the electronicdevice and/or the second electronic device. Using the information, theprocessor may also access or obtained a predefined device profile storedin local or remote memory that includes information about the electronicdevice and/or the second electronic device (such as specificationsand/or components in the electronic device and/or the second electronicdevice, predictive models of component lifetime or failure rates, etc.).

In particular, the processor may determine the information based on theone or more measurements of the environmental condition during operationof the electronic device and/or the second electronic device. Forexample, the environmental condition may be associated with a power-uptransient signal of the electronic device and/or the second electronicdevice. As shown in FIG. 15, power-up transient signal 1514 may includea power consumption 1510 that varies with time 1512 (which is sometimesreferred to as a ‘time-varying power consumption’) and is associatedwith a programmed electrical characteristic of the electronic deviceand/or the second electronic device. In particular, the time-varyingpower consumption may include a sequence two or more discrete (orapproximately discrete) power-consumption levels. Thesepower-consumption levels may be associated with operation of anintegrated circuit in the electronic device and/or the second electronicdevice based on a predefined identifier, such as execution of a programmodule by a processor in the electronic device and/or the secondelectronic device (e.g., initialization of firmware by the processor,selectively activating a circuit or block in the processor to vary thepower consumption as a function of time, etc.). Moreover, thepower-consumption levels may correspond to (or represent): a pulse-codemodulation sequence, a quadrature-modulation sequence, and/or aDC-balanced sequence. Thus, the power-consumption levels may representdigital values in the predefined identifier. In some embodiments, thepower-consumption levels include information encoded with: anerror-detection code, a parity-bit technique, a checksum, a hashfunction, a cyclic-redundancy check, a hamming code, and/or anerror-correction code. While FIG. 15 illustrates a particular type ofcoding, in other embodiments other codes and/or modulation techniquesmay be used, including: amplitude modulation, frequency modulationand/or spread-spectrum modulation. In addition, while FIG. 15illustrates a particular example of the time-varying power consumption,more generally the time-varying power consumption includes a modulatedwaveform.

Thus, by determining the information, the processor may recognizeclasses of electronic devices, and may monitor aging of the electronicdevice and/or the second electronic device. When impending failure ispredicted (or a failure is detected), the environmental monitoringdevice may provide an alert to the user. The environmental monitoringdevice may also perform remedial action, such as: ordering a replacementcomponent or electronic device, schedule maintenance, etc.

In some embodiments, the processor may associate a user (and, moregenerally, an individual) with the determined information based apredefined list of electronic devices of the user. For example,user-account information may include the predefined list of the user'selectronic devices. If the determined information specifies a uniqueidentifier of an electronic device, the processor may use thisinformation and the predefined list to lookup the user. Then, theprocessor may obtain or access a predefined preference of the user. Asdescribed previously with reference to FIG. 11, the selective electricalcoupling of the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node may be based on this predefined preference.

While the preceding embodiments illustrated the identification of theelectronic device and/or the second electronic device (as well asassociated information, such as a type, model or brand), e.g., bymeasuring the programmed electrical characteristic, in other embodimentsthe identity of the electronic device and/or the second electronicdevice (or the associated information) is determined based on theselective electrical coupling. For example, an electrical characteristicmeasured by a load-monitoring sensor may be associated with a predefineddevice profile, which may include metadata that facilitates theidentification. This association may also be based on a location of theenvironmental monitoring device (such as in the bathroom), which mayfacilitate the identification. In some embodiments, the user of theenvironmental monitoring device is queried to facilitate theidentification. For example, the user may be asked (e.g., viacommunication with the user's cellular telephone) to identify theelectronic device and/or the second electronic device. Alternatively oradditionally, the user may be asked to provide a name (such as a nickname) for the electronic device and/or the second electronic device.

Furthermore, changes to the environmental condition (such as a change inthe temperature or the humidity) after a change in the selectiveelectrical coupling may facilitate the identification. For example, thepresence (or absence) of sound after the first electrical-connectionnode is electrically coupled to (or electrically decoupled from) thesecond electrical-connection node may facilitate identification of theelectronic device and/or the second electronic device as stereoequipment. Similarly, a change in the temperature after the firstelectrical-connection node is electrically coupled to (or electricallydecoupled from) the second electrical-connection node may facilitateidentification of the electronic device and/or the second electronicdevice as a thermostat. Furthermore, a change in the humidity after thefirst electrical-connection node is electrically coupled to (orelectrically decoupled from) the second electrical-connection node mayfacilitate identification of the electronic device and/or the secondelectronic device as a humidifier.

FIG. 16 presents a drawing illustrating communication withinenvironmental monitoring device 1610 during method 1400 (FIG. 41).During operation of environmental monitoring device 1610 (such as duringan environmentally gated switching mode of operation), sensor 1612optionally provides sensor data 1614 to processor 1622 based on the oneor more measurements of the environmental condition. Alternatively oradditionally, interface circuit 1616 optionally receives sensor data1620 based on the one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition from electronic device 1618 (such as a legacy electronicdevice or another environmental monitoring device), which providessensor data 1620 to processor 1622. Note that the environmentalcondition may be associated with the charging of the rechargeablebattery.

Then, processor 1622 provides control signal 1624 to a switch 1626 toselectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node andthe second electrical-connection node in the environmental monitoringdevice based on the one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition. In this way, processor 1622 selects the charging mode of therechargeable battery based on the one or more measurements of theenvironmental condition. Alternatively or additionally to the selectiveelectrical coupling, processor 1622 optionally provides information 1628specifying the charging mode to power supply 1630, which thenaccordingly recharges the rechargeable battery:

In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring device receives thesensor data from a remotely located or separate electronic device. Thisis shown in FIG. 17, which presents a flow diagram illustrating a method1700 for selectively electrically coupling the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node,which may be performed by the environmental monitoring device. Duringoperation, the environmental monitoring device receives, from anotherelectronic device (such as the fourth electronic device), the sensordata based on the one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition (operation 1710) in the external environment that includes theenvironmental monitoring device. For example, the environmentalmonitoring device may communicate with the fourth electronic device viathe antenna and the interface circuit. The fourth electronic device maybe separate from the environmental monitoring device, such as a legacyelectronic device and/or another environmental monitoring device.Moreover, the fourth electronic device may include a sensor (or sensormechanism) that performs the one or more measurements. Note that thesensor data may include: temperature, humidity, acoustic information,fire-detection information, load-monitoring information, and/or motioninformation.

Then, the processor (or the control mechanism) in the environmentalmonitoring device provides the control signal to the switch (operation1712) or the switching mechanism in the environmental monitoring deviceto selectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection nodeand the second electrical-connection node based on the one or moremeasurements of the environmental condition.

For example, as noted previously in the discussion of FIG. 11, thesensor data may include acoustic information (such as audio information)and the environmental condition may include a sound in the externalenvironment. Thus, the processor may change the control signal based onthe presence or absence of the sound. Alternatively or additionally, thesensor data may include fire-detection information (or a carbon-monoxideconcentration) and the environmental condition may include presence offire (or carbon monoxide). In this example, the processor mayselectively electrically decouple the first electrical-connection nodefrom the second electrical-connection node when the presence of fire (orcarbon monoxide) is detected.

In another example, the sensor data may include load-monitoringinformation and the environmental condition may include the electricalcharacteristic associated with the electronic device and/or the secondelectronic device. Then, the processor may selectively electricallydecouple the first electrical-connection node from the secondelectrical-connection node when the electrical characteristic indicatesa safety concern (such as a fire hazard, a short circuit, a risk ofelectric shock or electrocution, etc.) or a standby operating mode forthe electronic device and/or the second electronic device.

Note that the switch may provide selectively switching between a closedstate of the switch and an open state of the switch. Alternatively, theselective electrical coupling may include the impedance value betweenthe open-state impedance value and the close-state impedance value.Furthermore, the switch may regulate the electrical coupling, such as byproviding voltage-limited or current-limited coupling. In addition, theenvironmental monitoring device may be used in conjunction with avariety of electrical standards. As described previously with referenceto FIG. 13, the switch may include multiple electrical-connection nodesthat are independently or dependently (such as concurrently) selectivelyelectrically coupled.

Additionally, the environmental monitoring device may communicate withthe third electronic device (via the antenna and the interface circuit)that is separate from the environmental monitoring device, and mayreceive the identifier and/or the preference of the individual.Alternatively, the processor may access or obtain the predefinedpreference of the individual. This information may allow the processorto selectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection nodeand the second electrical-connection node based on the identifier, thepredefined preference of the individual and/or the preference of theindividual. As noted previously, this approach may allow theenvironmental monitoring device to personalize the environmentalcondition based on who is in or is expected to be in the externalenvironment.

In these ways, the environmental monitoring device may facilitatedynamic switching based on remote monitoring or measurements of one ormore environmental conditions, the presence (or absence) of theindividual and/or one or more preferences of the individual.Consequently, the environmental monitoring device may provide improvedways to monitor and modify the environmental conditions in the externalenvironment. As illustrated in this discussion, at least some of thedifferent embodiments of the environmental monitoring device may be usedseparately or in conjunction with each other, such as those describedpreviously with reference to FIGS. 11-13.

FIG. 18 presents a drawing illustrating communication withinenvironmental monitoring device 1810 during method 1700 (FIG. 17).During operation of environmental monitoring device 1810 (such as duringan environmentally gated switching mode of operation), interface circuit1812 receives sensor data 1814 based on the one or more measurements ofthe environmental condition from electronic device 1816 (such as alegacy electronic device or another environmental monitoring device).Then, interface circuit 1812 provides sensor data 1814 to processor1818.

Next, processor 1818 provides control signal 1820 to a switch 1822 toselectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node andthe second electrical-connection node in the environmental monitoringdevice based on the one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition.

In some embodiments, interface circuit 1812 optionally receivesidentifier 1824 from electronic device 1826 (such as the user's cellulartelephone), and interface circuit 1812 then provides identifier 1824 toprocessor 1818. In response, processor 1818 may optionally access orobtain predefined preference 1830 from memory 1832 based on identifier1824. For example, processor 1818 may receive predefined preference 1830in response to request 1828. Alternatively, interface circuit 1812 mayoptionally receive preference 1834 from electronic device 1826 (forexample, the user may provide preference 1834 using a user interface inelectronic device 1826), which interface circuit 1812 then provides toprocessor 1818. Note that processor 1818 may optionally base controlsignal 1820 on: identifier 1824, predefined preference 1830 and/orpreference 1834.

In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring device providesgeo-fencing services. This is shown in FIG. 19, which presents a flowdiagram illustrating a method 1900 for selectively electrically couplingthe first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node, which may be performed by the environmentalmonitoring device. During operation, the environmental monitoring devicereceives, from an electronic device (such as the third electronicdevice), the location information (operation 1910) of the individual.For example, the environmental monitoring device may receive thelocation information from the third electronic device (such as theuser's cellular telephone), which is separate from the environmentalmonitoring device, via the antenna and the interface circuit.

Moreover, the environmental monitoring device may optionally obtain theone or more measurements of the environmental condition (operation 1912)in the external environment that includes the environmental monitoringdevice. For example, the sensor (or the sensor mechanism) in theenvironmental monitoring device may provide sensor data based on the oneor more measurements of the environmental condition and/or the sensordata may be received from another electronic device that is separatefrom the environmental monitoring device (such as the fourth electronicdevice). In particular, the environmental monitoring device maycommunicate with the fourth electronic device via the antenna and theinterface circuit, and this communication may include the sensor data.Note that the sensor may include: a temperature sensor, a humiditysensor, an acoustic sensor, a fire-detection sensor, a load-monitoringsensor, and/or a motion sensor.

Furthermore, the processor (or the control mechanism) in theenvironmental monitoring device provides the control signal to theswitch (operation 1914) or the switching mechanism in the environmentalmonitoring device to selectively electrically couple the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection nodebased on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition andthe location information. For example, the selective electrical couplingmay occur when the location information indicates that the individual iswithin a region, such as: a room or a building. This region may includethe external environment.

Note that the location information may be based on triangulation andtrilateration. For example, the location information may be based on:communication in a network (such as a cellular-telephone network or awireless network), communication within a subset of a network (such aswithin 100 m of a network switch or within range of a wireless accesspoint, e.g., within approximately 50-300 m), a local positioning system,and/or a Global Positioning System. Furthermore, the locationinformation may specify the location of the individual in two dimensionsand/or three dimensions. Thus, the location of the individual may bespecified in a plane (such as on a location on a floor in a building)and/or the location of the individual may be specify the floor and thelocation on the floor. Additionally, the location information mayinclude: an absolute position of the individual and/or a position of theindividual relative to that of the environmental monitoring device (suchas within 10, 20, 50, 100 or more feet of the environmental monitoringdevice).

In some embodiments, the processor optionally performs one or moreadditional actions (operation 1916) using the location information. Forexample, the processor may calculate, based on the location information,a predicted location of the individual and a time when the individual isestimated to be proximate to or at the location (such as when theenvironmental monitoring device determines that the individual willarrive at home or, alternatively, when the individual will leave theiroffice for the location). In particular, the location information mayspecify a sequence of locations as a function of time and/or a velocityof the individual, which may allow the predictions and estimates to becalculated. Alternatively, the location information may specify aposition of the individual along a predefined route, which may allow thepredictions and estimates to be calculated based on traffic conditions,weather conditions, etc. Thus, the processor may estimate that theindividual will be in a room in a building in ten minutes. Then, theselective electrical coupling may be based on the predicted location andthe time. This may allow the environmental monitoring device to adjustor modify the environmental condition in a predictive manner (e.g., inadvance), so that the environmental condition meets the individual'sneeds, e.g., the lights may be turned on (or off), the temperature orthe humidity in a room may be increased (or decreased), an air filtermay be turned on (or off), a meal may be heated or ready to eat, anelectronic device (such as a computer) may be turned on (or off), theindividual may be checked into a hotel, etc. Moreover, these changes tothe environmental condition may occur without the individual taking anaction when they arrive at or are proximate to the location.

To facilitate such predictive capability, the communication with thethird electronic device may include an identifier (such as theidentifier of the third electronic device and, more generally, anidentifier of the individual). This information may allow theenvironmental monitoring device to know both the location and theidentity of the individual (e.g., based on a listed owner or user of thethird electronic device). For example, the information may include a MACaddress, which can be assigned to a network-enabled electronic device,and the MAC address may be transmitted to a portion of the network(which may include an environmental monitoring device). Alternatively oradditionally, a MAC address for a user's mobile device (such as theircellular telephone) can be registered with or associated with anenvironmental monitoring device, and the environmental monitoring devicecan query for the MAC address of the mobile device on a portion of thenetwork. If the MAC address appears in the routing table of a switch ora wireless-network router, the environmental monitoring device mayrecognize that the user's mobile device is located within range of theenvironmental monitoring device (or within range of the wireless-networkrouter), and the environmental monitoring device may use thisinformation to turn on or off features that are to be enabled and/ordisabled by a geo-fencing technique such as software that turns on a fanwhen the user's mobile device appears on a wireless network in theuser's home). Then, the processor may selectively electrically couplethe first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node based on the identifier. This may allow theenvironmental monitoring device to meet the individual's need. Inparticular, based on the identifier, the environmental monitoring devicemay access or obtain a predefined preference of the individual, such asinformation that specifies the desired environmental condition.Alternatively, the communication may include a preference of theindividual, and the selective electrical coupling may be based on thepreference. For example, the individual may provide the preference usinga user interface in the third electronic device.

In these ways, the environmental monitoring device may facilitatedynamic switching based on the one or more environmental conditions, thelocation of the individual and/or one or more preferences of theindividual. Consequently, the environmental monitoring device mayprovide improved ways to monitor and modify the environmental conditionsin the external environment.

FIG. 20 presents a drawing illustrating communication withinenvironmental monitoring device 2010 during method 1900 (FIG. 19).During operation of environmental monitoring device 2010 (such as duringan environmentally gated switching mode of operation), interface circuit2012 receives location information 2014 from electronic device 2016(such as an individual's cellular telephone), and interface circuit 2012provides location information 2014 to processor 2026.

Then, sensor 2018 optionally provides sensor data 2020 based on the oneor more measurements of the environmental condition. Alternatively oradditionally, interface circuit 2012 optionally receives sensor data2022 based on the one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition from electronic device 2024 (such as a legacy electronicdevice or another environmental monitoring device), which is thenprovided to processor 2026.

Moreover, processor 2026 optionally performs a calculation 2028, such ascalculating the estimated location and/or the arrival time based onlocation information 2014.

Next, processor 2026 provides control signal 2030 to switch 2032 toselectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node andthe second electrical-connection node in the environmental monitoringdevice based on the one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition, location information 2014 and/or calculation 2028.

In some embodiments, interface circuit 2012 optionally receivesidentifier 2034 from electronic device 2016, which is then provided toprocessor 2026. In response, processor 2026 may optionally access orobtain predefined preference 2038 from memory 2040 based on identifier2034. For example, processor 2026 may receive predefined preference 2038in response to request 2036. Alternatively, interface circuit 2012 mayoptionally receive preference 2042 from electronic device 2016 (forexample, the user may provide preference 2042 using a user interface inelectronic device 2016). Then, processor 2026 may optionally basecontrol signal 2028 on: identifier 2034, predefined preference 2038and/or preference 2042.

FIG. 21 presents a drawing illustrating a geo-fencing service. Inparticular, electronic device 2110 may provide location information 2112at different times or time stamps 2114. This location information may bereceived by environmental monitoring device (E.M.D.) 2116, e.g., viawired and/or wireless communication. Using location information 2112,environmental monitoring device 2116 may estimate a location ofelectronic device 2110 at a future time, such as when electronic device2110 (and, thus, a user or individual associated with electronic device2110) is expected to be in region 2118 (such as a region in externalenvironment 2120 that includes environmental monitoring device 2116).For example, subject to the constraints of the Nyquist sampling theorem,location information 2112 and associated time stamps 2114 may be used tocalculate a velocity of electronic device 2110. Then, based on adistance 2122 between the most-recent instance of location information2112 and region 2118, the estimated arrival time of electronic device2110 at region 2118 may be calculated. Note that region 2118 may includea radius around a central location or region defined by an arbitrary setof boundaries or a perimeter (such as a room, a building, a residence, aschool zone, a store, a warehouse, a work location, a commercial area, aneighborhood, etc.).

Moreover, environmental monitoring device 2116 may perform one or moremeasurements of the environmental condition in external environment 2120and/or may receive one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition in external environment 2120 performed by optional electronicdevice 2124, e.g., via wired and/or wireless communication. Then,environmental monitoring device 2116 may selectively electrically couple(or selectively decouple) regulator device (R.D.) 2128 and power cordplugged into an electrical outlet (E.O.) 2130 (e.g., an AC power plug)using switch 2126. In this way, environmental monitoring device 2114 mayregulate or modify the environmental condition without communicationbetween environmental monitoring device 2114 and regulator device 2128.

In some embodiments, location information 2110 is along a predefinedroute 2132. In these embodiments, environmental monitoring device 2116may use information about predefined route 2132 (such as a length ofpredefined route 2132), historical data (such as arrival times of theuser or the individual at different times of the day, week, month oryear based on the most-recent instance of location information 2110)and/or current conditions along predefined route 2132 (such as trafficconditions, weather conditions, etc.) to calculate the estimated arrivaltime at region 2118.

While the preceding example illustrated a geo-fencing service based onan estimated arrival time, in other embodiments geo-fencing is used tomonitor whether the user or the individual is within region 2118. Forexample, a geo-fencing service may monitor whether a child is withinregion 2118. If the child leaves region 2118, environmental monitoringdevice 2116 may modify the selective electrical coupling provided byswitch 2126. Thus, the geo-fencing service may be based on theindividual being with region 2118 and/or outside of region 2118.

In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring device uses monitoredenergy usage or power consumption to control the selective electricalcoupling. This is shown in FIG. 22, which presents a flow diagramillustrating a method 2200 for selectively electrically coupling thefirst electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connectionnode, which may be performed by the environmental monitoring device.During operation, the environmental monitoring device receives, from thesensor (or the sensor mechanism) in the environmental monitoring device,the sensor data (operation 2210) based on the one or more measurementsof an environmental condition in the external environment that includesthe environmental monitoring device. Note that the environmentalcondition may correspond to (or may be related to or a function of)power consumption by the electronic device that is separate from theenvironmental monitoring device, and that is electrically coupled to thefirst electrical-connection node. Alternatively or additionally, theenvironmental condition may correspond to (or may be related to or afunction of) power consumption by the second electronic device that isseparate from the environmental monitoring device, and that iselectrically coupled to the second electrical-connection node.

Then, the processor (or the control mechanism) in the environmentalmonitoring device provides the control signal to the switch (operation2212) or the switching mechanism in the environmental monitoring deviceto selectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection nodeand the second electrical-connection node based on the one or moremeasurements of the environmental condition.

Moreover, an antenna and an interface circuit in the environmentalmonitoring device may communicate information specifying theenvironmental condition (operation 2214) to another electronic device(such as the third electronic device and/or an electronic deviceassociated with a power company, e.g., a power meter), which is separatefrom the environmental monitoring device. This capability may allow theenvironmental monitoring device to facilitate so-called ‘smartmonitoring’ and/or ‘smart regulation’ of power consumption (such asdynamic regulation of demand based on a condition in a power system,e.g., the spot price of electricity, current demand, etc.) in theexternal environment (such as a home or building). Furthermore, this mayallow reports about power consumption and/or total working time or theduration of usage to be sent to the user (such as the user's cellulartelephone).

As noted previously, the environmental condition may include energyconsumption and/or power consumption. Moreover, the environmentalcondition may indicate, during a time interval, usage of the electronicdevice and/or the second electronic device (such as whether or not theelectronic device and/or the second electronic device were used, e.g., abinary usage metric). For example, the environment condition mayindicate whether (or not) a mini-bar was used or whether (or not) anindividual watched television. In some embodiments, the sensor dataincludes measurements of heat generated by the electronic device and/orthe second electronic device. Alternatively or additionally, theenvironmental condition may indicate a duration of usage of theelectronic device and/or the second electronic device, e.g., areal-valued usage metric. For example, how long the individual watchedtelevision. In these ways, the environmental monitoring device maymonitor and report information that is equivalent to the power usage ona power meter and/or may monitor activities or actions of theindividual. In addition, the environmental monitoring device may controlthe selective electrical coupling based on predefined constraints. Thus,the environmental monitoring device may electrically decouple atelevision after an allotted viewing time has been exceeded, or mayelectrically decouple the electronic device and/or the second electronicdevice when a predefined energy-consumption value is exceeded.

In some embodiments, the sensor includes a load-monitoring sensor andthe environmental condition includes an electrical characteristicassociated with the electronic device and/or the second electronicdevice. For example, the electrical characteristic may include: acurrent, a voltage, a phase relative to at least a reference signal, aquality factor, a harmonic of a fundamental frequency, a resonancefrequency, a time constant, noise, and/or power consumption. Thus, theone or more measurements may directly measure the energy consumptionand/or the power consumption, or the energy consumption and/or the powerconsumption may be determined indirectly (such as based on heatmeasurements, which can specify binary usage, and a predefined look-uptable of the energy consumption and/or the power consumption of theelectronic device and/or the second electronic device).

Moreover, the selective electrical decoupling may occur when theelectrical characteristic indicates a safety concern (such as a firehazard, a short circuit, a risk of electric shock or electrocution,etc.).

Furthermore, as described previously with reference to FIG. 15, theenvironmental condition may be associated with a power-up transientsignal of the electronic device and/or the second electronic device. Inparticular, the electrical characteristic may include a time-varyingpower consumption of the electronic device and/or the second electronicdevice, where the time variation may include a sequence of approximatelydiscrete values (such as two power-consumption levels or multiplepower-consumption levels). Additionally, the electrical characteristicmay correspond to (or be related to or a function of): a pulse-codemodulation sequence, a quadrature-modulation sequence, and/or aDC-balanced sequence. In some embodiments, the power-consumption levelsinclude information encoded with: an error-detection code, a parity-bittechnique, a checksum, a hash function, a cyclic-redundancy check, ahamming code, and/or an error-correction code.

Note that the processor may determine information associated with theelectronic device and/or the second electronic device based on the oneor more measurements of the environmental condition during operation ofthe electronic device and/or the second electronic device. For example,the information may include: a type of electronic device, a model ofelectronic device, a brand of electronic device, and/or a uniqueidentifier of the electronic device and/or the second electronic device.Furthermore, the processor may associate a user with the determinedinformation based a predefined list of electronic devices of the user.Alternatively or additionally, the selective electrical coupling may bebased on a predefined preference of the user or the individual. Thus,the predefined preference may indicate that the user (such as a child)can watch television for an hour per day. When the environmentalcondition indicates this has occurred, the environmental monitoringdevice may selectively electrically decouple the television from a powersource.

FIG. 23 presents a drawing illustrating communication withinenvironmental monitoring device 2310 during method 2200 (FIG. 22).During operation of environmental monitoring device 2310 (such as duringan environmentally gated switching mode of operation), sensor 2312optionally provides sensor data 2314 based on the one or moremeasurements of the environmental condition to processor 2322.Alternatively or additionally, interface circuit 2316 optionallyreceives sensor data 2318 based on the one or more measurements of theenvironmental condition from electronic device 2320 (such as a legacyelectronic device or another environmental monitoring device), and thenprovides sensor data 2318 to processor 2322. As noted previously, theenvironmental condition may include energy consumption and/or powerconsumption of the electronic device and/or the second electronicdevice.

Then, processor 2322 provides control signal 2324 to switch 2326 toselectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node andthe second electrical-connection node in the environmental monitoringdevice based on the one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition.

Moreover, processor 2322 provides information 2328 (which specifies theenvironmental condition) to interface circuit 2316, which communicatesinformation 2328 to electronic device 2330 (such as a power meter).

In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring device includes anoverride mechanism that provides the user control over whether (or not)there is selective electrical coupling or decoupling. This is shown inFIG. 24, which presents a flow diagram illustrating a method 2400 forselectively electrically coupling the first electrical-connection nodeand the second electrical-connection node, which may be performed by theenvironmental monitoring device. During operation, the environmentalmonitoring device obtains the one or more measurements of theenvironmental condition (operation 2410) in the external environmentthat includes the environmental monitoring device. For example, thesensor (or the sensor mechanism) in the environmental monitoring devicemay optionally provide sensor data based on the one or more measurementsof the environmental condition and/or the sensor data may be optionallyreceived from another electronic device that is separate from theenvironmental monitoring device (such as the fourth electronic device).In particular, the environmental monitoring device may communicate withthe fourth electronic device via the antenna and the interface circuit,and this communication may include the sensor data. Note that the sensormay include: a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an acousticsensor, a fire-detection sensor, a load-monitoring sensor, and/or amotion sensor.

Then, the processor (or the control mechanism) in the environmentalmonitoring device provides the control signal (operation 2412) to theswitch (or the switching mechanism) in the environmental monitoringdevice to selectively electrically couple the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection nodebased on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition.

Next, a user may use the manual-control or override mechanism in theenvironmental monitoring device to specify the electrical coupling state(operation 2414) of the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node, where the electrical coupling statespecified by the override mechanism supersedes the selective electricalcoupling specified by the control signal. Note that the overridemechanism may supersede the selective electrical coupling eitherdirectly or indirectly. In particular, the override mechanism may beelectrically coupled to the switch and/or the processor.

For example, a user of the environmental monitoring device may activatethe override mechanism (such as by flipping an override switch orpushing an override button), which may pass through or skip all thedigital aspects performed by the processor in operation 2414 and mayforce the electrical coupling state (such as electrical coupling orelectrical decoupling of the first electrical-connection node and thesecond electrical-connection node). In particular, the overridemechanism may have a first electrical coupling state and a secondelectrical coupling state, and may include an override switch and/or anoverride button. In a first electrical coupling state of the overridemechanism, the first electrical-connection node and the secondelectrical-connection node may be electrically coupled, and in a secondelectrical coupling state of the override mechanism the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node maybe electrically decoupled. The user may activate the override mechanismto select the first electrical coupling state or the second electricalcoupling state.

In these ways, the environmental monitoring device may facilitatedynamic switching based on the one or more environmental conditions,while allowing the user the ability to assert control, as needed, of theselective electrical coupling of the switch (so that, for example,things just ‘work’ the way the user wants). Consequently, theenvironmental monitoring device may provide improved ways to monitor andmodify the environmental conditions in the external environment inaccordance with the user's wishes, thereby providing an improved userexperience when using the environmental monitoring device.

FIG. 25 presents a drawing illustrating communication withinenvironmental monitoring device 2510 during method 2400 (FIG. 24).During operation of environmental monitoring device 2510 (such as duringan environmentally gated switching mode of operation), sensor 2512optionally provides sensor data 2514 based on the one or moremeasurements of the environmental condition to processor 2522.Alternatively or additionally, interface circuit 2516 optionallyreceives sensor data 2518 based on the one or more measurements of theenvironmental condition from electronic device 2520 (such as a legacyelectronic device or another environmental monitoring device), whichthen provides sensor data 2518 to processor 2522.

Then, processor 2522 provides control signal 2524 to switch 2526 toselectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node andthe second electrical-connection node in the environmental monitoringdevice based on the one or more measurements of the environmentalcondition.

Moreover, based on a user action or instruction, override mechanism 2528may provide override signal 2530 to processor 2522 and/or switch 2526 tospecify the electrical coupling state of switch 2526. For example, whenprocessor 2522 receives override signal 2530, control signal 2532 mayoptionally be accordingly modified. Alternatively or additionally, whenswitch 2526 optionally receives override signal 2530, the selectiveelectrical coupling may optionally be accordingly modified (so that thefirst electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connectionnode are electrically coupled or electrically decoupled based onoverride signal 2530).

In some embodiments, the environmental monitoring device includes asafety mechanism that detects a safety condition and decouples the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node.This is shown in FIG. 26 presents a drawing illustrating a safetymechanism 2600 for safety monitoring in the environmental monitoringdevice. This safety mechanism may include one or more insertion sensors2610 that detect insertion of an object other than a power plug into asocket 2612 associated with the first electrical-connection node and/orthe second electrical-connection node. Moreover, the one or moreinsertion sensors 2610 may be passive and/or active. For example, theone or more insertion sensors 2610 may include: an optical detector, apressure sensor (such as a spring or a tactile switch), a chemicalsensor (which detects burning material), and/or an electrical sensor.

In particular, socket 2612 may have holes 2614, and the safety conditionmay involve detecting insertion of the object into hole 2614-1 withoutinsertion of the object into hole 2614-2. For example, the opticaldetector may detect a blocked beam (between an optical source and aphotodiode) in hole 2614-1 and not hole 2614-2. Alternatively, theelectrical sensor may detect current between contacts in hole 2614-1 andnot hole 2614-2. Furthermore, a spring (such as a sheet metal spring) inhole 2614-1 may be compressed, while a spring in hole 2614-2 may not becompressed. Note that the springs in holes 2614 may be position towardsthe top and the bottom of hole 2614 (as well as or instead of on thesides of holes 2614) so that an angular position of the object in holes2614 may be determined.

In some embodiments, the detection of the insertion of the object intohole 2614-1 and the absence of detection of the insertion of the objectinto hole 2614-2 may be within a time interval. Thus, if the one or moreinsertion sensors 2610 simultaneously (or within a time window of a fewmilliseconds to several hundred milliseconds) detect the object in holes2614, control logic 2616 in safety mechanism 2600 may conclude that theobject is the power plug. This conclusion may be reinforced if themeasured electrical resistance or conductivity (and, more generally,electrical impedance) of the object in holes 2614 matches that of thepower plug.

Furthermore, the safety condition may involve detecting: insertion ofthe object into a hot contact associated with socket 2612 and/or aground-fault current. For example, safety mechanism 2600 may include: aground-fault circuit interrupter, a surge protector, a fuse and/or ashort detector. These capabilities may allow safety mechanism 2600 torun a test prior to the switch selectively electrically coupling thefirst electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connectionnode. If the electronic device and/or the second electronic device failsthis test (e.g., a safety condition is detected), the environmentalmonitoring device may not selectively electrically couple the firstelectrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node.

Thus, safety mechanism 2600 may help ensure safe operation of theenvironmental monitoring device. For example, the environmentalmonitoring device may have a child-safety operating mode that may thatthe environmental monitoring device can be used in environments in whichchildren may inadvertently attempt to stick objects in either or both ofholes 2614 without the occurrence of a safety concern (such as a risk ofelectric shock, a short circuit, a fire hazard and, more generally, adangerous condition that can result in injury). This may allowenvironmental monitoring device to be safely used in these externalenvironments, e.g., in conjunction with or as a night light.

In some embodiments of one or more of the preceding methods, there maybe additional or fewer operations. Furthermore, the order of theoperations may be changed, and/or two or more operations may be combinedinto a single operation. In addition, in some of the precedingembodiments there are fewer components, more components, a position of acomponent is changed and/or two or more components are combined.

In the preceding description, we refer to ‘some embodiments.’ Note that‘some embodiments’ describes a subset of all of the possibleembodiments, but does not always specify the same subset of embodiments.

The foregoing description is intended to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the disclosure, and is provided in the contextof a particular application and its requirements. Moreover, theforegoing descriptions of embodiments of the present disclosure havebeen presented for purposes of illustration and description only. Theyare not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure tothe forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations willbe apparent to practitioners skilled in the art, and the generalprinciples defined herein may be applied to other embodiments andapplications without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure. Additionally, the discussion of the preceding embodiments isnot intended to limit the present disclosure. Thus, the presentdisclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, butis to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles andfeatures disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An environmental monitoring device, comprising: a first electrical-connection node configured to electrically couple to an electronic device; a second electrical-connection node configured to electrically couple to a second electronic device; a switching mechanism, electrically coupled to the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node which during operation of the environmental monitoring device selectively electrically couples the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node to selectively provide power from the first electrical-connection node via the second electrical-connection node based on one or more measurements of an environmental condition; a sensor mechanism that, during operation of the environmental monitoring device, provides sensor data based on one or more measurements of an environmental condition; and a control mechanism, electrically coupled to the switching mechanism and the sensor mechanism which during operation of the environmental monitoring device provides a control signal to the switching mechanism to selectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition other than lighting conditions in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device, wherein the selective electrical coupling includes impedance values between an upper impedance value corresponding to an open state of the switching mechanism and a lower impedance value corresponding to a closed state of the switching mechanism; and wherein the control signal corresponds to a grey-scale value that, when applied to the switching mechanism, specifies a current impedance value.
 2. The environmental monitoring device of claim of 1, wherein the control signal dynamically adapts the power provided via the second electrical-connection node based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition.
 3. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the sensor mechanism includes one of: a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an acoustic sensor, a fire-detection sensor, a load-monitoring sensor, and a motion sensor.
 4. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the sensor mechanism includes an acoustic sensor and the environmental condition includes a sound in the external environment; and wherein, during operation of the environmental monitoring device, the control mechanism selectively electrically decouples the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node when the sound exceeds a threshold value and selectively electrically couples the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node when the sound is less than the threshold value.
 5. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the sensor mechanism includes a fire-detection sensor and the environmental condition includes presence of fire; and wherein, during operation of the environmental monitoring device, the control mechanism selectively electrically decouples the first electrical-connection node from the second electrical-connection node when the presence of fire is detected.
 6. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the sensor mechanism includes a load-monitoring sensor and the environmental condition includes an electrical characteristic associated with one of: the electronic device, and the second electronic device; and wherein, during operation of the environmental monitoring device, the control mechanism selectively electrically decouples the first electrical-connection node from the second electrical-connection node when the electrical characteristic indicates a standby operating mode for the one of: the electronic device, and the second electronic device.
 7. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the sensor mechanism includes a load-monitoring sensor and the environmental condition includes an electrical characteristic associated with one of: the electronic device, and the second electronic device; and wherein, during operation of the environmental monitoring device, the control mechanism selectively electrically decouples the first electrical-connection node from the second electrical-connection node when the electrical characteristic indicates a safety concern.
 8. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the selective electrical coupling includes series current-limited coupling between the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node.
 9. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the first electrical-connection node corresponds to a first electrical standard having a first root-mean-square voltage and the second electrical-connection node corresponds to a second electrical standard having a second root-mean-square voltage.
 10. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the environmental monitoring device further comprises a third electrical-connection node electrically coupled to the switching mechanism; and wherein the control signal further selectively electrically couples the first electrical-connection node and the third electrical-connection node based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition.
 11. The environmental monitoring device of claim 10, wherein the selective electrical coupling of the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node and the selective electrical coupling of the first electrical-connection node and the third electrical-connection node are independent of each other.
 12. The environmental monitoring device of claim 10, wherein the selective electrical coupling of the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node and the selective electrical coupling of the first electrical-connection node and the third electrical-connection node depend on each other.
 13. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising: an antenna; an interface circuit, electrically coupled to the antenna and the control mechanism, which, during operation of the environmental monitoring device, communicates with a third electronic device that is separate from the environmental monitoring device, wherein the communication includes an identifier of the third electronic device; wherein, during operation of the environmental monitoring device, the control mechanism selectively electrically couples the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node based on the identifier.
 14. The environmental monitoring device of claim 13, wherein, during operation of the environmental monitoring device, control mechanism selectively electrically couples the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node based on a predefined preference of an individual associated with the identifier.
 15. The environmental monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising: an antenna; an interface circuit, electrically coupled to the antenna and the control mechanism, which, during operation of the environmental monitoring device, communicates with a third electronic device that is separate from the environmental monitoring device, wherein the communication includes a preference of an individual; wherein, during operation of the environmental monitoring device, the control mechanism selectively electrically couples the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node based on the preference.
 16. A computer-program product for use in conjunction with an environmental monitoring device, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a computer-program mechanism embedded therein to selectively electrically couple a first electrical-connection node and a second electrical-connection node, the computer-program mechanism including: instructions for obtaining one or more measurements of an environmental condition other than lighting conditions in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device; and instructions for providing a control signal to a switching mechanism in the environmental monitoring device to selectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition, wherein the selective electrical coupling includes impedance values between an upper impedance value corresponding to an open state of the switching mechanism and a lower impedance value corresponding to a closed state of the switching mechanism; wherein the control signal corresponds to a grey-scale value that, when applied to the switching mechanism, specifies a current impedance value; and wherein the selective electrical coupling selectively provides power from the first electrical-connection node via the second electrical-connection node based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition.
 17. The computer-program product of claim 16, wherein the obtaining involves receiving sensor data based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition from a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device.
 18. A control-mechanism-implemented method for selectively electrically coupling a first electrical-connection node and a second electrical-connection node in an environmental monitoring device, wherein the method comprises: obtaining one or more measurements of an environmental condition other than lighting conditions in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device; and using the control mechanism in the environmental monitoring device, providing a control signal to a switching mechanism in the environmental monitoring device to selectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition, wherein the selective electrical coupling includes impedance values between an upper impedance value corresponding to an open state of the switching mechanism and a lower impedance value corresponding to a closed state of the switching mechanism; wherein the control signal corresponds to a grey-scale value that is applied to the switching mechanism to specify a current impedance value: and wherein the selective electrical coupling selectively provides power from the first electrical-connection node via the second electrical-connection node based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition. 